Quantitative indicators of upper extremity muscle potential in individuals with spinal cord injury - paraplegia: a pilot study

Abstract

This study aimed to present quantitative indicators of muscle potential of the upper extremities in persons with spinal cord injury - paraplegia. For the purposes of the research, the isometric dynamometry method and standardized handgrip test were applied. A total of 15 males participated in the study, of which 12 subjects had complete and 3 subjects had incomplete spinal cord injury, mean age 46.66 ± 8.28years. They have undergone a rehabilitation phase and at least 12years have passed since the spinal cord injury. All subjects moved using standard mechanically powered wheelchairs and all were right-handed. Maximum values of muscle potential (maximal muscularforce of the left hand and the righthand expressed in N, time aspect of force manifestation at 50% of maximum expressed in s, endurance in force expressed in Ns, as well as summary values of muscle potential) andfunctional dimorphism were analyzed. All results are presented in absolute and relative values of muscle potential. The maximum handgrip of the left hand was 448.79 ± 85.58 N, and 490.55 ± 79.06 Nfor the right. The research results show that the summary value of the muscle potential of the hand strength was 939.34 ± 163.21 N, whereas the relative value was 11.30 ± 2.49 N/kg. The functional dimorphism for the maximum handgrip between the non-dominant and dominant hand was 0.912 ± 0.05. The summary value of the muscular potential for endurance at 50% of the maximum was 28004.67 ± 11233.66 Ns, while the relative value was 334.82 ± 129.65 Ns/kg. The functional dimorphism for of endurance in force was 0.793 ± 0.11. Based on the results, changes in functional independence and motor abilities of persons with spinal cord injury during and after rehabilitation could be monitored.