A comparative study of the muscle strength and mass of the arm flexors and extensors in paraplegic and in non paraplegic basketball players

Abstract

Objectives: To study the changes in the strength of the elbow flexors and extensors in paraplegic subjects, and the agonist/antagonist mass and strength ratio in paraplegic wheelchair users. Method: 10 paraplegic wheelchair basketball players were compared with 10 healthy basketball players. The 20 subjects underwent a clinical and dynamometric isokinetic assessment, and a CT scan measurement of the muscle crosssectional surface area of the flexor and extensor muscles of the elbows. Results: there was an increase in muscle strength in paraplegic subjects. There was no significant difference in the agonist/antagonist ratio between the dominant and non dominant upper limb in paraplegics whereas such a difference was found in healthy subjects. The muscle mass was increased in the paraplegics, but a correlation between muscle mass and strength was only found in the healthy subjects. © 1992 International Medical Society of Paraplegia.