Scapular kinematics during manual wheelchair propulsion in able-bodied participants

Michel J Bekker; Riemer J K Vegter; Jan W van der Scheer; Johanneke Hartog; Sonja de Groot; Wiebe de Vries; Ursina Arnet; Lucas H V van der Woude; Dirkjan H E J Veeger

doi:10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2018.03.008

Scapular kinematics during manual wheelchair propulsion in able-bodied participants

Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2018 May:54:54-61. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2018.03.008. Epub 2018 Mar 14.

Authors

Michel J Bekker¹, Riemer J K Vegter², Jan W van der Scheer³, Johanneke Hartog⁴, Sonja de Groot⁵, Wiebe de Vries⁶, Ursina Arnet⁷, Lucas H V van der Woude⁸, Dirkjan H E J Veeger⁹

Affiliations

¹ Swiss Paraplegic Research, Guido A. Zächstrasse 4, CH, 6207 Nottwil, Switzerland; Research Institute MOVE, Department of Human Movement Sciences, Free University Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, NL, 1081BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, NL-9713AV Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: michel.bekker.work@gmail.com.
² Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, NL-9713AV Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: r.j.k.vegter@umcg.nl.
³ Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, NL-9713AV Groningen, The Netherlands.
⁴ Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, NL-9713AV Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of Cardiology and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, NL-9713GZ Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.hartog@umcg.nl.
⁵ Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, NL-9713AV Groningen, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Rehabilitation Research Center Reade, Dr. Jan van Breemenstraat 2, NL, 1056AB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: s.d.groot@reade.nl.
⁶ Swiss Paraplegic Research, Guido A. Zächstrasse 4, CH, 6207 Nottwil, Switzerland. Electronic address: wiebe.devries@paraplegie.ch.
⁷ Swiss Paraplegic Research, Guido A. Zächstrasse 4, CH, 6207 Nottwil, Switzerland; University of Lucerne, Department of Health Sciences, Frohburgstrasse 3, CH, 6002 Lucerne, Switzerland. Electronic address: ursina.arnet@paraplegie.ch.
⁸ Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, NL-9713AV Groningen, The Netherlands; Center for Rehabilitation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, NL-9713AV Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: l.h.v.van.der.woude@umcg.nl.
⁹ Research Institute MOVE, Department of Human Movement Sciences, Free University Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, NL, 1081BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, NL, 2628CD Delft, The Netherlands. Electronic address: h.e.j.veeger@vu.nl.

PMID: 29554550
DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2018.03.008

Abstract

Background: Altered scapular kinematics have been associated with shoulder pain and functional limitations. To understand kinematics in persons with spinal cord injury during manual handrim wheelchair propulsion, a description of normal scapular behaviour in able-bodied persons during this specific task is a prerequisite for accurate interpretation. The primary aim of this study is to describe scapular kinematics in able-bodied persons during manual wheelchair propulsion.

Methods: Sixteen able-bodied, novice wheelchair users without shoulder complaints participated in the study. Kinematic and kinetic data were collected during a standardized pose in the anatomic posture, frontal-plane arm elevation and low-intensity steady-state handrim wheelchair propulsion and upper-body Euler angles were calculated.

Findings: Scapulothoracic joint orientations in a static position were 36.7° (SD 5.4°), 6.4° (SD 9.1°) and 9.1° (SD 5.7°) for respectively protraction, lateral rotation and anterior tilt. At 80° of arm elevation in the frontal plane, the respective values of 33.4° (SD 8.0°), 23.9° (SD 5.4°) and 4.1° (SD 11.3°) were found. During the push phase of manual wheelchair propulsion, the mean scapular rotations were respectively 32.7° (SD 7.1°), 7.1° (SD 9.2°) and 9.8° (SD 8.3°).

Interpretation: The orientation of the scapula in a static pose, during arm elevation and in manual wheelchair propulsion in able-bodied participants showed similar patterns to a previous study in persons with para- and tetraplegia. These values provide a reference for the investigation of the scapular movement pattern in wheelchair-dependent persons and its relation to shoulder complex abnormalities.

Keywords: Biomechanics; Manual wheelchair propulsion; Scapular kinematics.

MeSH terms

Adult
Arm / physiopathology
Biomechanical Phenomena
Female
Humans
Male
Range of Motion, Articular / physiology*
Scapula / physiology*
Shoulder / physiology
Shoulder Impingement Syndrome / physiopathology
Shoulder Joint / physiology*
Shoulder Pain / physiopathology
Spinal Cord Injuries / physiopathology
Wheelchairs*
Young Adult