Shoulder rotator torque and wheelchair dependence differences of National Wheelchair Basketball Association players

Objective: Shoulder rotator muscle imbalances can contribute to subacromial impingement. The forces and movement patterns of wheelchair locomotion may contribute to these imbalances. This study attempted to determine whether National Wheelchair Basketball Association players of differing classifications had significant differences (p less than or equal to .05) in concentric isokinetic peak shoulder rotator torque and torque ratios, and wheelchair locomotion dependence. Design: Fifty-seven (class 1 = 12, class 2 = 24, class 3 = 21) of 117 total tournament participants (class 1 = 25, class 2 = 49, class 3 = 43) served as the convenience sample of volunteers for the survey portion, and 33 of these subjects (class 1 = 11, class 2 = 12, class 3 = 10) also entered the isokinetic portion of this study. Setting: National wheelchair basketball tournament. Results: Class 1 and 2 players had greater wheelchair dependence than class 3 players (p less than or equal to .05). Peak torque or torque ratios generally did not differ among player classifications or with other populations. Class 1 players had weaker nondominant shoulder external rotator torque production at 60 degrees/sec (p less than or equal to .03) compared with other classes and at 180 degrees/sec compared with class 3 players (p = .02), suggesting an inability to develop the ''attenuation of dominance'' noted among other groups. Diminished torque-producing capacity at 60 degrees/sec related to greater wheelchair dependence among class 1 players (p = .034). Conclusions: Class 1 players failed to demonstrate the acquired shoulder external rotator torque symmetry evident among class 2 and 3 players (with specific weakness of the nondominant shoulder external rotators). This torque symmetry difference was related to their greater dependence on wheelchair locomotion. (C) 1997 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.