ANALYSIS OF POSTURAL CHANGES IN THE UPPER LIMBS OF WHEELCHAIR RUGBY PLAYERS

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of sports on the static posture of the upper limbs of wheelchair rugby players. Twelve male players, between the ages of 20 and 45 years, were divided into two groups: Rugby Group (RG) with 6 individuals with neurological injuries (spinal cord injury C4/C7) who were wheelchair rugby players; Control Group (CG) with 6 individuals with neurological injuries (spinal cord injury C4/C7) who were not practicing rugby. The volunteers were submitted to postural evaluation by computerized biophotogrammetry in the following clinical conditions: Alignment of the right shoulder (ARS), alignment of the left shoulder (ALS), right shoulder abduction (RSA) left shoulder abduction (LSA), right inclination of the head (RIH), left inclination of the head (LIH), right elbow semiflexion (RES), left elbow semiflexion. These clinical conditions were used to diagnose the postural changes associated with the adapted sports biomechanics or the paraplegia habitual inactivity. The results obtained showed that the clinical conditions of RSE and LSE exhibited significant changes when both groups were compared. The study suggests that the sports gestures performed while rugby is being played had a positive effect on the static upper limb posture when the elbows were semiflexed.