Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Shoulder Pain Among Wheelchair Basketball Players in Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Wheelchair basketball is increasingly popular in Bangladesh, promoting physical fitness, social inclusion, and mental well-being for individuals with disabilities, but the sport places significant repetitive strain on the shoulders due to propulsion and overhead activities. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of shoulder pain and identify associated risk factors among Bangladeshi wheelchair basketball players to address the lack of local evidence in adaptive sports health. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 47 players at the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP), Savar, Dhaka, using convenience sampling, a structured questionnaire, and the validated Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) for data collection and assessment. Results: The study found that moderate shoulder pain was most common, especially during tasks involving overhead movements like washing, reaching, and dressing. While 66% of participants performed shoulder-strengthening exercises, none used shoulder braces, indicating gaps in awareness or access to preventive measures. Chi-square analysis showed significant associations between gender and daily propulsion hours, education level with both fitted sports wheelchair use and daily propulsion time, and residential area with lack of shoulder strength. Discussion: These findings suggest that repetitive strain from sports rather than prior trauma is the main source of shoulder pain, and highlight the urgent need for tailored preventive strategies, better fitted equipment, strengthening programs, and increased awareness among players. Future studies should expand to larger, more diverse samples and include clinical assessments to develop effective, context-specific interventions for protecting musculoskeletal health and performance in wheelchair basketball. Keywords: Wheelchair basketball, shoulder pain, risk factors, Bangladesh, adaptive sports, musculoskeletal health