Comparison of Arm-Trunk Movement between Complete Paraplegic and Able- Bodied Subjects during Circle Drawing

Abstract Study design : This study was a cross sectional, controlled trial. Objectives: To examine the performance of repetitive circle drawing on dynamic sitting balance between subject with spinal cord injury (SCI) and age-matched able-bodied (AB) adults. Summary of background data : Previous studies showed that the dynamic sitting balance is impaired in SCI. However, the arm-trunk coordinated movement for different directions in seated SCI has not been examined yet. Methods: Twelve subjects with complete T7-T12 thoracic cord injury (mean age: 36.3 ± 3.0 years) and 12 age- matched AB adults were recruited. Subjects performed 10 repetitive circle drawing at seated position. The three- dimensional motion system (Vicon) was used to measure shoulder, trunk and pelvic angles at sitting position. Results : The SCI group displayed an arm-trunk movement with a significantly larger shoulder adduction/ abduction angle (p<0.001), but less trunk flexion/extension, pelvic anterior/posteriortilt and pelvic rotation angles than AB controls (p<0.05, p<0.001, and p<0.001, respectively). Conclusions: The small circle drawing is feasible to detect the compensatory movement of shoulder for the impairment of trunk and pelvic control in thoracic SCI. Furthermore, the assistance and guidance of trunk and pelvic movements is important for the arm-trunk coordinated movement in thoracic SCI.