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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
Measuring 3D In-vivo Shoulder Kinematics using Biplanar Videoradiography
Published on: March 12, 2021
Kinematics of the contralateral and ipsilateral shoulder: a possible relationship with post-stroke shoulder pain
Martijn Niessen1, Thomas Janssen, Carel Meskers
1Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Research Institute MOVE, VU University Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.niessen@fbw.vu.nl
Objective:
Post-stroke shoulder pain is a common phenomenon in hemiplegia and impedes rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to identify a possible relationship between post-stroke shoulder pain, scapula resting position and shoulder motion.
Methods:
Shoulder kinematics of 27 patients after stroke (17 men) were compared with 10 healthy age-matched control subjects. Using an electromagnetic tracking device, the kinematics of both the contralateral and ipsilateral (i.e. paretic and non-paretic) arm during active and passive abduction and forward flexion were measured and expressed in Euler angles.
Results:
Scapular lateral rotation relative to the thorax was increased in patients with post-stroke shoulder pain compared with both patients without post-stroke shoulder pain and control subjects at rest as well as during arm abduction and forward flexion. Additionally, glenohumeral elevation was decreased in patients with post-stroke shoulder pain during passive abduction. No differences were found regarding scapula position (displacement relative to the thorax).
Conclusion:
In patients with post-stroke shoulder pain a particular kinematical shoulder pattern was established, characterized by enhanced scapular lateral rotation and diminished glenohumeral mobility.
