Effect of a standard exercise protocol on shoulder pain in long-term wheelchair users.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the effectiveness of a 6-month exercise protocol on shoulder pain experienced by wheelchair users during functional activities.


METHODS
Forty-two wheelchair users, 35 males and seven females: average age of 35 years and an average duration of wheelchair use of 14 years.


METHODS
Subjects were randomly assigned to treatment (n=21) and control (n=21) groups. The treatment group received instruction in five shoulder exercises which they performed daily for 6 months. The exercise protocol included two exercises for stretching anterior shoulder musculature and three exercises for strengthening posterior shoulder musculature.


METHODS
All subjects completed a self-report questionnaire and the Wheelchair Users Shoulder Pain Index (WUSPI) initially and at bimonthly intervals during the 6-month intervention.


RESULTS
Seventy-five per cent of the subjects reported a history of shoulder pain since beginning wheelchair use. The average initial performance-corrected (PC-WUSPI) score of the 42 subjects was 17.7 (+/-21.3) with a range of 0-103.2 points. Over 83% of the subjects (35 of 42) completed the 6-month study. Subjects in the treatment group decreased their PC-WUSPI score by an average of 39.9%, compared to decreases of only 2.5% in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings supported the effectiveness of this exercise protocol in decreasing the intensity of shoulder pain which interferes with functional activity in wheelchair users.
Curtis
K A
KA
Department of Physical Therapy, California State University, Fresno, School of Health and Human Services, 93740-8031, USA.
Tyner
T M
TM
Zachary
L
L
Lentell
G
G
Brink
D
D
Didyk
T
T
Gean
K
K
Hall
J
J
Hooper
M
M
Klos
J
J
Lesina
S
S
Pacillas
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014910:Wheelchairs