Evidence - Wheelchair Positioning

Positioning the chair as close to the transfer surface as possible will decrease leading arm shoulder flexion/abduction.

The combination of shoulder flexion, abduction, and internal rotation, with the vertical reaction forces required to support body weight likely narrows the subacromial space and impinges the structures within the joint, such as the rotator cuff tendons  

(PVA Guidelines, 2005; Gagnon et al., 2009)

Finley et al revealed a significant difference in minimal shoulder external rotation during transfers between a group of 13 manual wheelchair users without shoulder impingement (20°) and 10 counterparts with shoulder impairments (3°).

• This finding confirms that SCI patients with shoulder impingement moved into a greater amount of humeral internal rotation (less external rotation) when performing transfer in comparison to the control group.  

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