Shoulder pain in spinal cord injury

The spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most severe forms of disabling syndromes. Patients with SCI usually apply an excessive overload on the upper limbs, especially the shoulders, using them more frequently and in a greater range of activities when compared to healthy subjects. Moreover, the search for the improvement of the quality of life in the last years has led an increasingly number of SCI patients to practice physical activities. Many SCI patients use wheelchairs for functional locomotion and sports practice. However, this functional demand on shoulder's joint may lead to a painful picture, interfering on these patient's daily activities. With the improvements on technology and healthcare life expectancy for SCI patients has been increased. Since then, issues regarding quality of life and age-related diseases are very important for this population. The purpose of this paper was to better understand shoulder pain in SCI patients by reviewing available literature.A lesão medular (LM) é uma das formas mais graves dentro das síndromes incapacitantes. O paciente com LM sobrecarrega excessivamente os membros superiores, especialmente os ombros, utilizando-os mais freqüentemente e em maior variabilidade de atividades que uma pessoa sem LM. Além disso, a busca da melhoria da qualidade de vida nos últimos anos, levou um número crescente de portadores de LM a procurar a prática de atividade física. Muitos pacientes com LM utilizam cadeira de rodas para locomoção funcional e realização de esportes. Porém, esta demanda funcional na articulação do ombro pode levar a presença de quadro álgico importante interferindo nas atividades de vida diária desses pacientes. Com os adventos da tecnologia e cuidados com a saúde, a expectativa de vida dos pacientes com LM tem aumentado. Desde então, questões relacionadas à qualidade de vida e doenças associadas com o envelhecimento são de grande importância para essa população. Este estudo busca um melhor entendimento da dor no ombro em pacientes com LM através de revisão da literatura.Universidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto Departamento de Biomecânica, Medicina e Reabilitação do Aparelho LocomotorUNIFESP-EPM Departamento de Ortopedia e TraumatologiaCentro de Reabilitação Diretora Técnica do Lar Escola São FranciscoUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de Ortopedia e TraumatologiaSciEL

Electromyographic Analysis of Paravertebral Muscles in Patients with Idiopathic Scoliosis

Study Design. Prospective clinical electromyographic study in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis and control group. Objective. To evaluate electromyographic amplitude from erector spinae muscles of patients with idiopathic scoliosis in comparison with control volunteers without spinal deformities. Summary of Background Data. Previous studies have indicated an increased electromyographic activity in paravertebral muscles in the convex side of the scoliotic curvature. However, in previous studies there is the absence or poor description of methods used, and some studies were conducted before the recording and processing recommendations for surface electromyographic signals had been described. Methods. Thirty individuals, matched by sex, age, and body mass index, were divided into two groups: scoliosis and control. The electric activity of the erector spinae muscles was determined by surface electromyography on both sides of the three levels of spine: T8, L2, and L5. Results. Normalized electromyographic amplitudes of erector spinae muscles, in the convex and concave sides of the apex region of the scoliotic curve in the thoracic and lumbar regions, were not significantly different. Also, there was no significant difference between the muscles of these regions when the scoliosis group was compared with the control group. The erector spinae muscle at the L5 level, representing the lower vertebral limit of the lumbar scoliotic curve, had significantly higher electromyographic activity on the convex side. However, the same alteration was shown in the control group homologous muscle (on the left side). Conclusion. Erector spinae muscles on the convex and concave sides at the curvature apex in patients with idiopathic scoliosis and small magnitude of curves did not show significant differences in electromyographic amplitude. Future studies should evaluate whether intragroup activation differences, at the L5 level in 80% of the maximum voluntary isometric contractions with predominance of the left side of the vertebral column, have any relation to the condition.FAPESP Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo[2003/13717-9