Clinical and sonographic risk factors for hemiplegic shoulder pain: A longitudinal observational study

Objective: To identify baseline risk factors associated with hemiplegic shoulder pain during the first 6 months after a stroke and to investigate changes in these risk factors over time. Design: Longitudinal observational study. Patients: A total of 94 patients with first-ever unilateral stroke lesion within 1 month after stroke. Methods: Clinical, radiological and sonographic evaluations were performed at baseline. Hemiplegic shoulder pain was assessed at 1, 3 and 6 months post-stroke. Associations between baseline factors and hemiplegic shoulder pain during the first 6 months and hemiplegic shoulder pain at 1, 3 and 6 months poststroke were analysed. Results: Poor arm motor function, indicated by a poor National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale item 5 score (odds ratio (OR) = 3.0; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.1–7.7) and the presence of supraspinatus tendon pathology (OR = 4.2; 95% CI = 1.4–12.9), were associated with hemiplegic shoulder pain. While patients with adhesive capsulitis, glenohumeral subluxation, or long head of biceps tendon effusion showed a higher prevalence of hemiplegic shoulder pain at 1 month after stroke, those with supraspinatus tendon pathology showed a higher prevalence at 3 and 6 months. Conclusion: Patients at high risk of hemiplegic shoulder pain with severe arm paralysis and supraspinatus tendon pathology require more careful attention during the rehabilitation period.