Abstract

Manual wheelchair is one the most used mobility device in people that is unable to walk. It enhances functional independence in non ambulant people, but it costs a great energy expenditure and is a source of painful musculoskeletal injuries. The most frequently affected joint in manual wheelchair users is the shoulder (rotator cuff tendinopathy and subacromial impingement). In this review, we aim to describe the risk factors and biomechanical issues that make wheelchair users more prone to develop shoulder pain. Further, we discuss potencial approaches for the prevention and early treatment of these injuries