The shoulder is a ball and socket joint which allows for a lot of movement and function. The key is to strengthen underused muscles, limit high stress shoulder situations and balance rest with activity. An example of a high stress shoulder situation would be lifting your wheelchair into your car using your arms, or pulling yourself up stairs. There are many ways to manage shoulder health and continue to use a manual wheelchair while preventing pain.
Shoulder pain can impact your quality of life, especially for people using wheelchairs. Using your arms to get around and transfer to and from your wheelchair can result in wear and tear over the years. The best case scenario for your shoulders is to achieve maximum propulsion with minimal strain on the body.
In this video Nancy demonstrates shoulder stretching exercises that she finds helpful to improve range of motion, using a simple pull up bar. Equipment can be time consuming to find and sometimes expensive, but it can be worth it when you find something that works well for you.
This should not be considered a recommendation, guidance, or view or opinion provided by Cortree or Spinal Cord Injury Ontario. Exercises are shown are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Please consult with your healthcare provider about what exercises are right for you.
