Effects of a training protocol for the prevention of shoulder overuse syndrome in wheelchair rugby athletes: A pilot study

The growing popularity of paralympic sports and the improvement of infrastructure accessibility has led to an increase of disabled people regularly practicing sports. However, besides the beneficial effects of physical activity, these athletes have a higher risk of upper limb musculoskeletal overuse disorders. Despite this, the literature is still inconclusive about shoulder overuse injury etiology and prevention strategies. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of a training protocol to prevent shoulder overuse syndrome in wheelchair rugby (WR) athletes. A total of 12 athletes, affected by tetraplegia (50%), paraplegia (26%), paraparesis due to cerebral palsy (8%), transfemoral amputation (8%), and osteogenesis imperfecta (8%) were evaluated at baseline (T0) and after 4 weeks (T1) of a self-administrated exercise program. In addition, each subject underwent a dynamometric test of the biceps brachii, deltoid and pectoralis muscles. A significant increase of dynamometric values was evident at T1 in all tested muscles.