The Compression of shoulder pain and strength and relationship between them in wheelchair veterans athletes and non-athletes

The purpose of this research was to study the shoulder pain and strength and also the relationship between them in disable & veteran athletes and nonathletes wheelchair users. Method & Materials: 40 elite wheelchair athletes (20 men، 20 women) and 40 nonathletes wheelchair users (20 men، 20 women) participated in this study. Demographic information، sport activity level، disability and medical records were collected by questionnaire، interviews and medical files. Then shoulder pain by wheelchair users pain index (r=0. 99) and shoulder muscle strength (external and internal rotation، abduction، adduction، extension and flexion) by handheld dynamometer were assessed. Pearson correlation coefficient and independent t were used to analyze data (p≤0. 05). The results showed 80% of male subjects reported experiencing shoulder pain since wheelchair use and 70% reported current shoulder pain. The results showed 90% of female subjects reported experiencing shoulder pain since wheelchair use and 77% reported current shoulder pain. The results also showed a significant relationship between shoulder pain with years of wheelchair use، the level of activity and sport activity level in male athletes and significant relationship between shoulder pain with years of wheelchair use and the level of activity in female athletes (p≤0. 05). However significant relationship between external and internal rotation strength، shoulder abduction and extension strength with shoulder pain are observed in male athletes and also، significant relationship between external and internal rotation strength، shoulder abduction، adduction and extension strength with shoulder pain are observed in female athletes (p≤0. 05). Finally، with respect to findings of this study can be concluded shoulder pain is lower in athletes than non-athletes in both men and women and also strength in athletes is higher than non-athletes. So، participation in physical activities can be used to reduce pain in wheelchair users.