Monday 17 June 2013

Arm and shoulder pain in SCIs: seeking solutions


Figure 2: Pressure map images show areas of high and low pressure while seated. The colors and numbers on the screen correspond to pressure readings expressed as millimeters of mercury (mmHg).

NW Regional Spinal Cord Injury System

Many people with SCI who use manual wheelchairs develop chronic, disabling arm, shoulder or hand pain that interferes with daily life. Studies have found that between 31%-73% of persons in the SCI population have shoulder pain, and 49%-73% have painful carpal tunnel syndrome.

Despite the frequency of these syndromes, little is known about their specific causes or how to prevent them, and treatments are not always effective.

In order to unravel this mystery, the Northwest Regional SCI System at the UW Department of Rehabilitation Medicine is collaborating with two other SCI centers (University of Pittsburgh and the Kessler Institute) on a study of wheelchair propulsion and transfer techniques in the SCI population.

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