A convenience sample of 17 manual wheelchair users with paraplegia participated in a cross-sectional, repeated-measures study. The purpose was to investigate ultrasound changes in biceps tendon thickness, variance, echogenicity, and contrast in response to wheelchair propulsion and relate these changes to gender. Thirteen men and four women with paraplegia propelled their own wheelchairs under 5 conditions, including tile and carpet surfaces and a figure-8 course. Ultrasound data was obtained before and after propulsion. Significant interaction effects were observed between gender and time with respect to changes in biceps variance (p-value: 0.476; f-value: 6.971); interactions associated with echogenicity (p-value: 0.100; f-value: 3.094) and contrast (p-value: 0.067; f-value: 3.948) approached significance. Medium to large effect sizes were associated with interactions. Results indicate propulsion caused a differing effect between men and women in the sample. All QUS variables increased in females, indicating brighter, more aligned fibers and a thicker tendon. In men, however, all values decreased. Further investigation of interaction between gender, time, and biomechanics is warranted with a larger and morehomogenous sample.

Gender differences in ultrasound measures of biceps tendon degeneration after wheelchair propulsion

247th National Meeting (2014)

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