Context: The purpose of this study was to determine test–retest reliability of upper-extremity muscle activity and kinematics during submaximal adapted rowing. Design: A repeated-measures design was used. Methods: Data were collected on 10 individuals (7 male and 3 female) with mobility impairment. Surface electromyography of muscles of the dominant arm (upper, middle, and lower trapezius, anterior and posterior deltoid, latissimus dorsi, and infraspinatus) was acquired. Muscle activity was analyzed using the area under the curve, peak amplitude, and mean amplitude. Kinematic analysis determined joint motions for shoulder plane and angle of elevation, and trunk flexion/extension, and rotation at the catch (0%) and finish (100%) of the stroke. Three submaximal rowing trials (20 strokes each) were completed with the middle 10 strokes of each trial averaged for analysis. Results: An interclass correlation coefficient (3, 10) determined test–retest reliability across trials (interclass correlation coefficient defined as poor < .5; moderate .5–.75; and good .75–.9). Moderate to excellent reliability existed across all muscles for the area under the curve, peak amplitude, and mean amplitude. Excellent reliability was seen for all kinematic measures. Conclusion: Results indicate upper-extremity muscle activity and kinematics of the adapted rowing stroke are reliable in a diverse group of individuals with mobility impairment.
Humeral elevation is a critical motion for individuals who use a manual wheelchair given that, in a typical day, wheelchair users reach overhead 5 times more often than able-bodied controls. Kinematic analyses in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) have focused on weight-bearing tasks rather than overhead reaching. This technical report presents shoulder movement coordination during overhead reaching in individuals with newly acquired SCI. Eight volunteers with acute SCI and 8 matched, uninjured controls participated. Three-dimensional kinematics were collected during seated, humeral elevation. Scapular and thoracic rotations during humeral elevation were averaged across repetitions. The linear relationship of scapular upward rotation to humeral elevation provided movement coordination analysis. Maximal elevation was reduced in SCI with increased thoracic kyphosis. Medium to large effect sizes were found at each elevation angle, with reduced scapular external rotation, posterior tilt, and increased thoracic kyphosis for those with SCI. The linear relationship occurred later and within a significantly (P = .02) smaller range of humeral elevation in SCI. Altered movement coordination, including a diminished linear association of scapular upward rotation and humeral elevation (scapulohumeral rhythm), is found with reduced maximal elevation and increased thoracic kyphosis during overhead reaching tasks in those with acute SCI.
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