Association between the Paraplegia and Athletics Sports In The Upper Limbs, Posture and Stomatognathic System

Abstract

Physical or sports activities for the disabled provides an opportunity to test limits and potential, prevent secondary deformities and promote social integration of individuals. This study examined the effects of paraplegia on the posture and upper limbs in practitioners and non-practitioners of physical activities. Twenty individuals (25 to 45 years), were selected and divided into three groups: Group 1 (G1), 5 paraplegic individuals with neurological injury in the lumbar structures (L1-L5), who were not practicing any sports, Group 2 (G2), 5 paraplegic individuals with neurological injury in the lumbar structures (L1-L5) who were sports practitioners (professional athletics) and Group 3 (G3) (control group), consisting of 10 healthy individuals. The individuals were submitted to assessments utilizing biophotogrammetry following a passive referential protocol: manubrium of the sternum, acromion, lateral epicondyle of the humerus, styloid process of the radius, 7th cervical vertebra (C7) and upper and lower angles of the scapula. The evaluations were completed by scoring the postural impairment patterns according to the New York posture rating. Finally they were submitted to an electromyography, bite force and ultrasound analyses. The statistical analysis was performed utilizing ANOVA (SPSS 17.0, p<0.05). The biophotogrammetry shows that in shoulder a postural symmetrical pattern for all of the groups. For left and right elbow, G1 exhibited a larger loading angle; for the scapula, G1 presented a greater external rotation on the right side compared to the left side. In the New York posture rating, a greater threshold of postural changes was observed for G3. The electromyography, bite force and ultrasound images, showed that paraathletes exhibited greater changes in the functional masticatory system. The paraplegia, regardless of its association with athletic endeavors, did not lead to relevant functional changes in posture or in the upper limbs. However, observed a functional change in the performance of the stomatognathic system.