The relation of shoulder pain and range-of-motion problems to functional limitations, disability, and perceived health of men with spinal cord injury: A multifaceted longitudinal study

Objectives: To determine if shoulder pain and range-of-motion (ROM) problem s can be predicted by demographic, injury-related, body weight, and radiogr aphic data over 3 years and to determine the relationships among these shou lder problems and functional limitations, disability, and perceived health. Design: A longitudinal, 2-panel study in which data were collected at 2 poi nts in time, 3 years apart. Setting: The community. Participants: Eighty-nine adult men with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) in the Houston-Galveston, TX, area. Main Outcome Measures: The acromioclavicular (AC) and the glenohumeral (GH) joints were x-rayed on plain film in standard anteroposterior position. Fu nctional limitations were determined with the FIM(TM) instrument; disabilit y was measured with the Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique ( CHART). Results: Thirty percent had shoulder pain and 22% had shoulder ROM problems . Men with shoulder pain had lived longer with SCI, were more likely to rep ort shoulder ROM problems, had lower CHART mobility scores, and were more l ikely to rate their health as fair than those without shoulder pain. Should er ROM problems were more common among men who were older, had AC joint nar rowing, had lower FIM scores, and reported poorer health. Conclusion: Shoulder pain and ROM problems were relatively prevalent. Demog raphic, injury-related, and radiographic variables were identified that wer e predictive of these problems over a period of at least 3 years. The shoul der problems were related to functional limitations, disability, and percei ved health.