title: Comparison of hand grip strength and upper limb pressure pain threshold between older adults with or without non-specific shoulder pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a high prevalence of non-specific shoulder pain associated with upper limb functional limitations in older adults. The purpose of this study was to determine the minimal clinically important differences (MCID) of grip strength and pressure pain threshold (PPT) in the upper limb between older adults with or without non-specific shoulder pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study was carried out following the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) criteria. A sample of 132 shoulders (mean ± SD years) with (n= 66; 76.04 ± 7.58) and without (n= 66; 75.05 ± 6.26) non-specific pain were recruited. The grip strength and PPT of the anterior deltoid and extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) muscles were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were statistically significant differences (mean ± SD;P-value) for anterior deltoid PPT (2.51 ± 0.69 vs 3.68 ± 0.65, kg/cm2;P< .001), ECRB PPT (2.20 ± 0.60 vs 3.35 ± 0.38 kg/cm2;P< .001) and grip strength (20.78 ± 10.94 vs 24.63 ± 9.38 kg;P= .032) between shoulders with and without non-specific pain, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MCID of 1.17 kg/cm2, 1.15 kg/cm2and 3.84 kg were proposed for anterior deltoid PPT, ECRB PPT and grip strength, respectively, to assess the upper limb of older adults with non-specific shoulder pain after treatment. In addition, univariate and multivariate (linear regression and regression trees) analyses may be used to consider age distribution, sex, pain intensity, grip strength and PPT in older adults including clinical and epidemiological studies with non-specific shoulder pain.
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Department, Motion in Brains Research Group, Instituto de Neurociencias y Ciencias del Movimiento, Centro Superior de Estudios Universitarios La Salle, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Cesar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Calvo Lobo
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy & Health Sciences Research Group, Physiotherapy Department, Faculty of Health, Exercise and Sport, European University , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romero Morales
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy & Health Sciences Research Group, Physiotherapy Department, Faculty of Health, Exercise and Sport, European University , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rodríguez Sanz
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, Universidad Complutense de Madrid , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sanz Corbalán
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Rey Juan Carlos University , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Eleuterio A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Sánchez Romero
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain; Research Group on Movement and Behavioural Science and Study of Pain, The Center for Advanced Studies University La Salle, Autónoma University, Madrid, Spain; La Paz Hospital Institute for Health Research, IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Josué
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernández Carnero
authors.affiliation: Research, Health and Podiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Nursing and Podiatry, Universidade da Coruña , Ferrol , A Coruña , Spain.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: López López
keywords: Aged; Hand strength; Myofascial pain syndromes; Referred pain; Shoulder pain; Trigger points