A survey of deep tissue injury in elite female wheelchair basketball players

Article type: Other

Authors: Shimizu, Yukiyo^{a; b} | Mutsuzaki, Hirotaka^{c; *} | Tachibana, Kaori^d | Tsunoda, Kenji^e | Hotta, Kazushi^f | Fukaya, Takashi^g | Ikeda, Eiji^h | Yamazaki, Masashiⁱ | Wadano, Yasuyoshi^b

Affiliations: [a] Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Tsukuba Hospital, Ibaraki, Japan | [b] Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Ibaraki, Japan | [c] Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Ibaraki, Japan | [d] Department of Physical Therapy, School of Healthcare, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Ibaraki, Japan | [e] Faculty of Social Welfare, Yamaguchi Prefectural University, Yamaguchi, Japan | [f] Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Healthcare, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Ibaraki, Japan | [g] Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tsukuba International University, Ibaraki, Japan | [h] Art and Sciences, Faculty of Education, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan | [i] Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Hirotaka Mutsuzaki, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, 4669-2 Ami Ami-machi, Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki 300-0394, Japan. Tel.: +81 29 888 4000; Fax: +81 29 840 2418. E-mail:[email protected]

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate deep tissue injuries (DTIs) in elite female wheelchair basketball players and identify factors associated with their occurrence. METHODS: Study participants were 22 female wheelchair basketball players on the Japanese national team. The sacral and bilateral ischial regions of each participant were examined using ultrasonography to detect DTIs. RESULTS: DTIs were found in 15 players (68.2%). DTIs were more frequent in players with a central nervous system disorder (CNSd) (85.7%) than in those with skeletal system disease (SSd) (37.5%, p = 0.020), and in players using a wheelchair in daily life (84.6%) than those using a wheelchair only for basketball (44.4%, p = 0.046). Players with pelvic instability were more likely to have DTIs (90.9% vs. 45.5%, p = 0.017). DTIs were deeper in the ischial region than the sacral region (p = 0.022). Players with CNSd had more DTIs in sacral regions (90% vs. 10%, p = 0.014). Players with DTIs had lower systolic blood pressure (sBP), red blood cell (RBC) count, and serum creatinine levels (sCr) (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ischial DTIs were deeper than sacral DTIs. Players with CNSd had more sacral DTIs than those with SSd. CNSd, wheelchair use in daily life, pelvic instability, and lower sBP, RBC, and sCr increased the risk of DTIs.

Keywords: Adaptive sports, pressure ulcer, female athletes, ultrasonography

DOI: 10.3233/BMR-150457

Journal: Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 427-434, 2017