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conferenceseries
.com
Volume 7, Issue 6 (Suppl)
J Nov Physiother
ISSN: 2165-7025 JNP, an open access journal
Physiotherapy 2017
November 27-29, 2017
November 27-29, 2017 Dubai, UAE
5
th
International Conference on
Physiotherapy
Assessment of conventional and non-conventional wheelchair propulsion using surface electromyography
activity of shoulder muscles
Tarek Atallah
Lebanese University, Lebanon
T
he high demand on the upper limbs during propulsion on the standard wheelchair is contributing to multiple injuries of
the rotator cuff. Since the conventional wheelchair is being responsible of a second handicap, a new prototype based on
a lever system has been suggested to reduce the risk of shoulder injuries. The objective of this study is to compare shoulder
muscle activity during propulsion on the conventional and non-conventional wheelchair. 18 able-bodied were recruited from
the Lebanese University. All Subjects were healthy males only for convenience in electrode placement. Participants propelled
the conventional and non-conventional wheelchair at a speed of 0.9 m/s for two trials each one. Mean power frequency, RMS,
Frequencies above 95% of the power spectral intensity, Median and Peak electro-myographic intensities of anterior deltoid,
posterior deltoid, biceps brachii, triceps brachii, pectoralis major and middle trapezius were compared between the two
wheelchairs. The results showed that anterior and posterior deltoid intensities were decreased during propulsion on the non-
conventional wheelchair compared with conventional wheelchair. The activity of these muscles has been shifted by the brachial
biceps and brachial triceps. However, the intensity of pectoralis major tended to increase during propulsion on the prototype
contrariwise the intensity of the middle trapezius diminished compared to the standard wheelchair. The non-conventional
wheelchair reduces and shifts the muscular activity during propulsion. Triceps and biceps brachii are the principle muscles;
their activity decreased the intensity of anterior and posterior deltoid therefore the likelihood of shoulder injuries may diminish.
Biography
Tarek Atallah has completed his Research Master’s degree in Physical Therapy from the Lebanese University. He is an Instructor at the Lebanese University and
a Physical Therapist at Saint Georges Hospital University Medical Center.
tarek.atallah@live.comTarek Atallah, J Nov Physiother 2017, 7:6(Suppl)
DOI: 10.4172/2165-7025-C1-020