The relationship between shoulder impingement syndrome and sleep quality

The aim of this study was to examine potential relationship between subjective sleep quality and degree of pain in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS).

Fourty patients with shoulder impingement syndrome were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Shoulder Disability Questionnaire (SDQ). Forty three of age and sex matched healthy subjects were included in the control group.

There was a significant difference between the patient and control groups in terms of all PSQI global scores and subdivisions (p < 0.01). The pain scores assessed by SDQ were positively correlated with the scores for subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, and sleep disturbance (r = 0.49/p < 0.01, r = 0.44/p < 0.01, r = 0.36/p < 0.05, r = 0.40/p < 0.05, and r = 0.37/p < 0.05 respectively). The comparison of total SDQ pain and global PSQI scores also revealed a significant correlation (r = 0.54/p < 0.01).

Subjective sleep disturbance connected to shoulder pain was found obviously in patients with SIS. For this reason, patients with shoulder pain due to SIS may benefit from the pain killers and cognitive-behavioral interventions that specifically target sleep disturbances. Further studies which contain polysomnographic assessments, as well as determine psychologic status are still needed to put forth sleep quality in patients with SIS.