This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Roy, C. W Articles by Hill, L. D Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Roy, C. W Articles by Hill, L. D Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Shoulder pain in acutely admitted hemiplegics

Wellington School of Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand

Madeleine R Sands

Wellington School of Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand

Linda D Hill

Wellington School of Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand

The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of shoulder pain in the first 12 weeks after acute stroke, and its relationship to functional outcome. The study was prospective observational in design, carried out weekly over 12 weeks from consecutive admissions. Acute medical and geriatric wards in three district hospitals provided the setting, and the 76 included patients admitted to hospital with a first documented episode of stroke resulting in neurological deficit lasting more than seven days.

The main outcomes measured were frequency and severity of pain using visual analogue scores; arm function (by Frenchay Arm Test and Motricity Index) and length of stay in hospital. Fifty-five patients (72%) experienced shoulder pain at some stage, most commonly on movement. Length of stay in those with pain was 82 days and those without pain 39 days (p < 0.001). All patients requiring continuing care, or dying after inclusion in the study, suffered shoulder pain. Patients with pain showed greater weakness and poorer arm function at study entry and at study termination, the rate of recovery of arm function being slower in those with pain than those without.

The results concluded that shoulder pain is a common phenomenon in acute hemiplegia and is strongly associated with prolonged hospital stay, and poor recovery of arm function in the first 12 weeks of illness.

Clinical Rehabilitation, Vol. 8, No. 4, 334-340 (1994)
DOI: 10.1177/026921559400800410


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Cacchio, E. De Blasis, V. De Blasis, V. Santilli, and G. Spacca Mirror Therapy in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 1 of the Upper Limb in Stroke Patients Neurorehabil Neural Repair, October 1, 2009; 23(8): 792 - 799. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Leung, A. Moseley, S. Fereday, T. Jones, T. Fairbairn, and S. Wyndham The prevalence and characteristics of shoulder pain after traumatic brain injury Clinical Rehabilitation, February 1, 2007; 21(2): 171 - 181. [Abstract] [PDF]

				I. Lindgren, A.-C. Jonsson, B. Norrving, and A. Lindgren Shoulder Pain After Stroke: A Prospective Population-Based Study Stroke, February 1, 2007; 38(2): 343 - 348. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. E Harris and J. J Eng Paretic Upper-Limb Strength Best Explains Arm Activity in People With Stroke Physical Therapy, January 1, 2007; 87(1): 88 - 97. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Gustafsson and K. McKenna A programme of static positional stretches does not reduce hemiplegic shoulder pain or maintain shoulder range of motion -a randomized controlled trial Clinical Rehabilitation, April 1, 2006; 20(4): 277 - 286. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. Griffin and J. Bernhardt Strapping the hemiplegic shoulder prevents development of pain during rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial Clinical Rehabilitation, April 1, 2006; 20(4): 287 - 295. [Abstract] [PDF]

				G. J Renzenbrink and M. J Ijzerman Percutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation (P-NMES) for treating shoulder pain in chronic hemiplegia. Effects on shoulder pain and quality of life Clinical Rehabilitation, April 1, 2004; 18(4): 359 - 365. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. Turner-Stokes and S. Rusconi Screening for ability to complete a questionnaire: a preliminary evaluation of the AbilityQ and ShoulderQ for assessing shoulder pain in stroke patients Clinical Rehabilitation, February 1, 2003; 17(2): 150 - 157. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. Turner-Stokes and D. Jackson Shoulder pain after stroke: a review of the evidence base to inform the development of an integrated care pathway Clinical Rehabilitation, March 1, 2002; 16(3): 276 - 298. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S F Tyson and C Chissim The immediate effect of handling technique on range of movement in the hemiplegic shoulder Clinical Rehabilitation, February 1, 2002; 16(2): 137 - 140. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K Walsh Management of shoulder pain in patients with stroke Postgrad. Med. J., October 1, 2001; 77(912): 645 - 649. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. A. K. Snels, H. Beckerman, J. J. ten Kate, G. J. Lankhorst, and L. M. Bouter Measuring Subluxation of the Hemiplegic Shoulder: Reliability of a Method Neurorehabil Neural Repair, September 1, 2001; 15(3): 249 - 254. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C I. Price and A D Pandyan Electrical stimulation for preventing and treating post-stroke shoulder pain: a systematic Cochrane review Clinical Rehabilitation, January 1, 2001; 15(1): 5 - 19. [Abstract] [PDF]

				V M Pomeroy, D S Niven, S Barrow, and E B Faragher Unpacking the black box of nursing and therapy practice for post-stroke shoulder pain: a precursor to evaluation Clinical Rehabilitation, January 1, 2001; 15(1): 67 - 83. [Abstract] [PDF]

				I. A. K. Snels, H. Beckerman, J. W. R. Twisk, J. H. M. Dekker, Peter de Koning, P. A. Koppe, G. J. Lankhorst, and L. M. Bouter Effect of Triamcinolone Acetonide Injections on Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain : A Randomized Clinical Trial Stroke, October 1, 2000; 31(10): 2396 - 2401. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. M Pomeroy, C. Frames, E. B Faragher, A. Hesketh, E. Hill, P. Watson, and C. J Main Reliability of a measure of post-stroke shoulder pain in patients with and without aphasia and/or unilateral spatial neglect Clinical Rehabilitation, June 1, 2000; 14(6): 584 - 591. [Abstract] [PDF]

				H C Hanger, P Whitewood, G Brown, M C Ball, J Harper, R Cox, and R Sainsbury A randomized controlled trial of strapping to prevent post-stroke shoulder pain Clinical Rehabilitation, April 1, 2000; 14(4): 370 - 380. [Abstract] [PDF]

				I. A. Snels, H. Beckerman, G. J Lankhorst, and L. M Bouter Treatment of hemiplegic shoulder pain in the Netherlands: results of a national survey Clinical Rehabilitation, January 1, 2000; 14(1): 20 - 27. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. I. M. Price, R. H. Curless, and H. Rodgers Can Stroke Patients Use Visual Analogue Scales? Stroke, July 1, 1999; 30(7): 1357 - 1361. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Roy, M. R Sands, L. D Hill, A. Harrison, and S. Marshall The effect of shoulder pain on outcome of acute hemiplegia Clinical Rehabilitation, February 1, 1995; 9(1): 21 - 27. [Abstract] [PDF]