Intensity of shoulder muscle activation during resistive exercises performed with and without virtual reality games

Author

Mazzone, B. ; Haubert, L. Lighthall ; Mulroy, S. ; Requejo, P. ; Gotsis, Marientina ; Lympouridis, V. ; Lange, Bernhard ; Profitt, R. ; Winstein, C.

Author_Institution

Phys. Therapy Dept., Nazareth Coll., Rochester, NY, USA

fYear

2013

fDate

26-29 Aug. 2013

Firstpage

127

Lastpage

133

Abstract

Approximately 70% of individuals with spinal injury eventually develop shoulder pain. A home exercise program can reduce this pain. Virtual reality gaming (VRG) may enhance motivation for exercise. This study aimed to determine if performance of shoulder exercises integrated into VRG results in similar muscle activation as non-VRG exercise. Five volunteers with paraplegia performed shoulder exercises with and without VRG. Arm kinematics and shoulder muscle activity were recorded. No clinically significant differences were found in kinematics between conditions. Muscle activation was similar or greater during VRG than non-VRG exercise. Therefore, exercise with VRG should be effective for reducing shoulder pain after spinal injury.

Keywords

biomechanics; computer games; diseases; injuries; medical computing; muscle; virtual reality; arm kinematics; exercise motivation; home exercise program; nonVRG exercise; paraplegia; resistive exercises; shoulder exercises; shoulder muscle activation; shoulder muscle activity; shoulder pain; spinal injury; virtual reality gaming; Electromyography; Erbium; Games; Kinematics; Muscles; Pain; Shoulder; shoulder exercises; spinal cord injury; virtual reality gaming;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Virtual Rehabilitation (ICVR), 2013 International Conference on

Conference_Location

Philadelphia, PA

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ICVR.2013.6662091

Filename

6662091