Influence of Spinal Cord Injury Level on Wheelchair Tennis Competition: Reach and Wheelchair Propulsion Movements

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify the influence of spinal cord injury level on wheelchair tennis movements. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 13 male wheelchair tennis players with spinal cord injury. They were classified into two groups: high paraplegia due to thoracic level spinal injury (T3–T9), and low paraplegia due to thoracolumbar level spinal injury (T10–L1). The following 6 items associated with competition movements were evaluated: grip, muscle strength (shoulder abduction, elbow extension, trunk flexion), linear wheelchair propulsion movement, figure-of-8 propulsion movement, pivot turn, and reach movement (anterior, lateral). [Results] The low paraplegia group had significantly higher values of trunk flexion muscle strength and reach movements (anterior, lateral) than the high paraplegia group. There were no significant differences in the grip, shoulder abduction and elbow extension muscle strengths, linear and figure-of-8 wheelchair propulsion movements, or pivot turn between the two groups. [Conclusion] Spinal cord injury level affects trunk flexion muscle strength and reach movements, but not wheelchair propulsion movements.