Shoulder Pain in Manual Wheelchair Users: What Causes It and How to Fix It
Shoulder pain is one of the most common complaints among manual wheelchair users. But why does it happen so often—and more importantly, what can you do about it? In this article , we’ll break down the root causes of shoulder pain in wheelchair users and explore effective, research-backed solutions. Whether you're a long-term user or new to manual wheelchairs, this guide can help you better protect your shoulders and maintain comfort and mobility. 🧠Why the Shoulders? The Biomechanical Burden Your shoulders weren’t designed to be weight-bearing joints. Unlike hips and knees, which are more stable, the shoulder prioritizes movement over strength. That mobility–stability trade-off means that repetitive pushing, lifting, and transferring puts it at high risk of overuse injuries. In fact, up to 76% of manual wheelchair users report shoulder pain at some point in their lives. Most of it stems from one central problem: the rotator cuff —a group of small, stabilizing muscles around ...