Indian Journal of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy - An International Journal
  • Year: 2015
  • Volume: 9
  • Issue: 1

Effect of Shoulder Exercises on Functional Performance in Paraplegic Wheelchair users having Shoulder Pain

1Clinical Physiotherapist, Department of Neurophysiotherapy

2Associate Professor, Department of Neurophysiotherapy

3Clinical Physiotherapist, Sancheti Institute College of Physiotherapy

4Principal, Sancheti Institute College of Physiotherapy

5MS-Orth, Indian Orthopaedic Research Group

6MS-Orth, Chairman Sancheti Institute for Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation

*Corresponding Author: Dr Vivek Kulkarni (PT), Sancheti Institute College of Physiotherapy, 12, Thube Park, Shivajinagar, Pune - 411 005, Maharashtra (India). Telephone: 020 - 25539393, Fax No: 020 - 25539494, Email: vnkulkarni19@yahoo.co.in

Online published on 5 January, 2015.

Abstract

The patients with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) excessively overload the upper extremity especially the shoulder using them more frequently in activities than people without SCI. Shoulder pain may limit daily performance of basic daily activities in these patients and these may benefit from rehabilitation. Many tasks involved in the independent function at home and in community are painful for individual with shoulder pain. This study was designed to find out the effect of shoulder strengthening and stretching exercises.

To find out effect of shoulder exercises on functional performance in paraplegic wheelchair users having shoulder pain.

To determine effects of supervised shoulder strengthening and stretching exercises in reducing the pain and resulting improvement in functional performance in individuals with SCI.

This randomized Clinical Trial recruited total 30 post SCI paraplegic wheelchair users having shoulder pain. Subjects were assessed using Wheelchair Users Shoulder Pain Index (WUSPI), Constant Murley Scale (CMS), Ka index of independence in activities of daily living (ADL) and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM).

Experimental group received one month treatment program (3 times in a week) including strengthening and stretching exercises; the control group did not receive any treatment. Post treatment evaluation of both groups was done.

Post therapy experimental group showed significant improvement (p<0.005) in outcome measures WUSPI, CMS and COPM except Ka index of independence in ADLs.

There was improvement in pain and functional performance in paraplegic wheelchair users having shoulder pain after treated with shoulder strengthening and stretching exercises for one month.

Keywords

Exercises, paraplegic shoulder pain