SHOULDER PAIN AND SUBLUXATION AFTER STROKE - CORRELATION OR COINCIDENCE

Objective. Few studies have concomitantly examined shoulder subluxatio n and other potential causes of shoulder pain in persons who have had a stroke. This study explores whether shoulder pain after stroke is re lated to shoulder subluxation, age, limitations in shoulder range of m otion, and upper extremity motor impairment. Method. Shoulder pain was measured with a visual analog scale in 20 subjects admitted to a reha bilitation hospital within 6 weeks of onset of their first stroke. Deg ree of shoulder pain was correlated with vertical, horizontal, and tot al asymmetries of glenohumeral subluxation; age; shoulder flexion, abd uction, and external rotation; and the upper extremity subscore of the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment. Results. Shoulder pain after stroke was not correlated with age (r(k) = .019, p = .916); vertical (r(k) = .081 , p = .324), horizontal (r(k) = .126, p = .241), or total asymmetry (r (k) = -.098, p = .288); shoulder flexion (r(k) = .049, p = .390) or ab duction (r(k) = -.074, p = .337); or Fugl-Meyer scores (r(k) = -.123, p = .257). In contrast, shoulder pain was strongly correlated with deg ree of shoulder external rotation (r(k) = -.457, p = .006). Conclusion . These results do not support a strong relationship between shoulder subluxation and pain after stroke. Appropriate precautions should be t aken to prevent range of motion limitations that may result in shoulde r pain.