Shoulder range of motion in patients with osteoporosis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the degree of loss of shoulder flexion in patients with osteoporosis, and to determine whether this was correlated with functional disability and pain as measured by the modified Health Assessment Questionnaire.


METHODS
Two different exercise regimens, one using traditional extension exercises of the spine (group A) and the other using both the extension exercises and exercises to stretch and strengthen scapular musculature (group B), were compared to determine their effects on range of motion, pain, and disability in 33 women with osteoporosis.


RESULTS
A significant improvement in shoulder flexion occurred in both exercise groups compared to controls; however, there were no statistically significant differences either within or between exercise groups from baseline to study end. A decrease in pain correlated with an increase in shoulder flexion in group A (r = 0.56), while an improvement in functional disability scores correlated with an increase in shoulder flexion in group B (r = 0.46).


CONCLUSIONS
Traditional spinal exercises along with exercises that target scapular mobility help to improve shoulder flexion, pain, and function in women with osteoporosis.
Pearlmutter
L L
LL
Bode
B Y
BY
Wilkinson
W E
WE
Maricic
M J
MJ
D000368:Aged; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012782:Shoulder / Q000503:physiopathology*