The purpose of this study was to investigate the most effective and comprehensible method for the assessment of resting scapular position (RSP) and pain level (PL) in unilateral shoulder pain (USP). Fifty volunteers with USP were involved in the study. Resting scapular assessments of the patients' pain sides (PS) and non-pain sides (NPS) were evaluated. The assessment tools for RSP are: 1) sternal notch (SN) to coracoid process (CP) distance 2) 3rd thoracic spinous process (T3S) to posterolateral angle of acromion (PLA) distance 3) scapular index 4) 8th thoracic spinous process (T8S) to inferior angle of scapular (IAS) distance 5) supine measurement of pectoralis minor (PM) distance 6) standing PM distance 7) PM index (PMI) and 8) PM pain. The paired t-test was used to compare PS and NPS in RSP. Pearson correlation analysis was used to confer a relationship between the PL and RSP. The results of this study indicated that: 1) all the variables between the PS and NPS for RSP were statistically significant(p<.05) and 2) the PMI showed the strongest relationship in the correlation analysis between RSP and PL(p<.05, r=.37). Therefore, it can be concluded that there is a relationship between PMI and PL and it is suggested that an assessment tool using PMI to diagnose shoulder pain would be clinically effective.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of wheelchair propulsion speed changes on the shoulder impingement syndrome. Method: EMG activity of 5 muscles (biceps brachii, pectoralis major, deltoid anterior, triceps brachii, and trapezius) were recorded with surface electrodes in 24 males during propulsion of three different speed levels on a motor-driven wheelchair treadmill. EMG signal was analysed using root mean square (RMS) values. In order to assure the statistical significance of the results, the one-way ANOVA and a Post Hoc Multiple Comparison were applied at the 0.05 level of significance. Results: The results of this study were as follows: Biceps brachii, and pectoralis RMS value variations of wheelchair propulsion speed between 45m/min and 60m/min, and between 60m/min and 75m/min were not statistically different (p>0.05). Triceps brachii, deltoid anterior and trapezius RMS value variations of wheelchair propulsion speed between 45m/min and 75m/min were statistically different (p<0.05). Conclusions: The risk of impingement syndrome has increased from deltoid muscle contraction growth and trapezoid, triceps brachial muscle endurance decrease when wheelchair propulsion speed rises. To prevent from impingement syndrome wheelchair users should strengthen and endure shoulder muscles. Besides we need education on propulsion posture and suitable position for wheelchair users.