Effects of reduction in shoulder pain on quality of life and community activities among people living long-term with SCI paraplegia: a randomized control trial

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2011 · DOI: 10.1179/107902611X12972448729486 · Published: January 1, 2011

Spinal Cord Injury Participation Orthopedics

Simple Explanation

People with spinal cord injuries (SCI) who use wheelchairs often develop shoulder problems and pain over time, which can negatively impact their daily activities, social life, and overall quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to see if an exercise program to reduce shoulder pain could improve social interaction and QOL in people with SCI paraplegia. The study involved 58 participants with SCI paraplegia and shoulder pain, who were randomly assigned to either a 12-week exercise program at home or a control group. The exercise program focused on strengthening shoulder muscles and modifying movements to reduce stress on the upper body. The researchers measured shoulder pain, social interaction, and QOL at the beginning of the study, after the 12-week program, and again 4 weeks later. The results showed that reducing shoulder pain through exercise was linked to increased social participation and improved QOL.

Study Duration

16 weeks

Participants

58 participants with SCI paraplegia and shoulder pain

Evidence Level

Level I, Randomized Control Trial

Key Findings

1
Reductions in shoulder pain were significantly associated with increases in social interaction among participants in the exercise group.
2
Decreases in shoulder pain were also significantly associated with improvements in quality of life for participants in the exercise group.
3
Increases in social participation were not directly associated with increases in quality of life in this study.

Research Summary

The study investigated the effects of reducing shoulder pain on the quality of life (QOL) and social activities of individuals with SCI paraplegia. Participants were assigned to either an exercise treatment group or a control group, and their shoulder pain, social interaction, and QOL were measured over time. The findings revealed that decreases in shoulder pain were related to significant increases in social participation and improvements in QOL. The exercise program was effective in reducing pain and, consequently, enhancing social engagement and overall well-being. The study concludes that effectively treating shoulder pain in individuals with SCI paraplegia can lead to improvements in social interaction, community activities, and subjective QOL. However, the improvements in QOL were not mediated through changes in social interaction.

Practical Implications

Clinical Practice

Clinicians should prioritize addressing shoulder pain in individuals with SCI paraplegia to improve their social participation and quality of life.

Rehabilitation Programs

Rehabilitation programs should include exercise and movement optimization strategies to reduce shoulder pain and enhance overall well-being.

Future Research

Further research could explore the long-term effects of shoulder pain management on social interaction and quality of life, as well as investigate the impact of different interventions.

Study Limitations

1
The study population was a convenience sample from southern California, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
2
The study had a relatively short follow-up period after the end of treatment.
3
The treatment group had one more face-to-face interaction with therapists than the control group.

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