Real-Time Muscle Activity and Joint Range of Motion Monitor to Improve Shoulder Pain Rehabilitation in Wheelchair Basketball Players: A Non-Randomized Clinical Study

Abstract

Wheelchair basketball (WB) involves sports gestures that expose the shoulder to high biomechanical stress and frequently lead to shoulder pain (SP). Due to their physical peculiarities and sporting performance, these athletes require specific rehabilitation programs that are as fast, personalized and effective as possible. However, there are few studies specifically dedicated to these purposes. Surface electromyography (sEMG) seems a promising tool for better customization and achieving more targeted rehabilitation results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of sEMG to monitor SP rehabilitation outcomes in WB players. Thirty-three athletes were enrolled in this non-randomized clinical study and divided into two groups. Both groups underwent a shoulder rehabilitation protocol, but only the experimental group was monitored in real time with sEMG on the shoulders. At enrollment (T0), at the end of 4 weeks of the rehabilitation program (T1), and 8 weeks after T1 (T2), the following outcome measures were collected: Wheelchair User’s Shoulder Pain Index (WUSPI), 20 m straight line test, shoulder abduction range of motion (ROM). There was a statistically significant difference for WUSPI and ROM scores in the comparison between groups (p < 0.001), and for all outcomes in the comparison between times and in the interaction between time and group (p < 0.001). Therefore, the experimental group showed a better improvement at all detection times compared to the control group. sEMG seems a useful tool for improving the monitoring of SP rehabilitation outcomes in WB players. This monitoring speeds up and improves the rehabilitative results, limiting the risk of sport abandonment and increasing the possibility for people with disabilities to quickly return to practice physical activity.

Neuromodulation’s Role in Functional Restoration in Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Patients

“…Go-carting has proven able to reduce muscle spasticity and provide temporary muscle relief in paraplegic individuals; however, this only lasted a couple of weeks upon stopping go-carting as a regularly scheduled activity [21]. Additionally, wheelchairbasketball has improved shoulder range of motion and overall greater functional ability when compared to a control group [22]. In multiple other categories comparing functional abilities, wheelchair-basketball was shown to increase overall physical ability in a more pronounced manner.…”

“…Adapted sport and therapeutic exercise are feasible options for minimal or temporary relief and functional restoration; however, there is also a need to develop a standardized set of exercises tailored to specific individualistic needs. These workout routines would be designed to allow wheelchair users to gain maximum benefit from their adapted sport of choice while promoting social inclusion and greater life satisfaction [22]. It is important to note that, although yoga, pilates, wheelchair sports, go-carting, and climbing have been linked to providing spasticity when combating neurological disease, there is not sufficient evidence regarding the neurophysiological mechanisms [21].…”

The clinical efficacy of ozone combined with steroid in the treatment of discogenic low back pain: a randomized, double-blinded clinical study

“…Ozone reduces the volume of the disk content by oxidizing the core proteins of the nucleus pulposus ( 20 , 21 ). Several studies have investigated the efficacy of ozone treatment (either alone or in combination with other drugs) in reducing the degree of low back pain ( 22–25 ). Compared to other therapeutic approaches (steroid alone, sham procedure, steroid plus anesthetic, and global postural re-education), medical ozone resulted in a significant reduction in pain at 3 weeks, 1 month ( 26 ), and 6 months of treatment ( 27–30 ).…”