Physical activity levels and shoulder pain in wheelchair users during COVID-19 restrictions

Abstract

Background: Manual wheelchair users are at high risk of developing shoulder pain. However, it is not known if restrictions to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus affected physical activity, wheelchair use and shoulder pain.

Objective: The aim of the study is to determine whether COVID-19 related restrictions caused changes in physical activity levels and the presence of shoulder pain in persons who use a wheelchair.

Methods: Manual wheelchair users completed a survey about the presence and severity of shoulder pain in a cross-sectional study design. Participants completed the Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire and were asked about daily wheelchair activity before and during lockdown. A logistic regression examined the relationship between increase in shoulder pain severity and change in activity levels.

Results: Sixty respondents were included for analysis. There was no significant change in physical activity during lockdown. There was a significant reduction in number of hours of daily wheelchair use and number of chair transfers during lockdown. Of the respondents, 67% reported having shoulder pain and 22% reported their shoulder pain becoming more severe during lockdown. No significant relationship was observed between the change in activity levels and increasing severity of shoulder pain.

Conclusion: Restrictions to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus resulted in no changes in physical activity levels in a sample of adult manual wheelchair users; however, there was a reduced time using a wheelchair each day and fewer chair transfers. The changes in wheelchair activities were not related to the worsening of shoulder pain.

Keywords: COVID-19; Physical activity; Shoulder pain; Wheelchair.

Fig. 1

Physical activity of wheelchair users from the Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire prior to and during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions at mild, moderate, and heavy intensities.

Fig. 2

Mild, moderate, and heavy physical activity levels of employed (N = 31) unemployed (N = 22), athletic (N = 10) and non-athletic (N = 50) wheelchair users from the Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire prior to and during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. There were no significant differences in physical activity levels when comparing prior to and during lockdown. Significant differences were observed between employed and unemployed for mild and moderate physical activity. Significant differences were observed between the sedentary group and athletic group at each physical activity level with the exception of mild activity during lockdown.