Early multidisciplinary prevention program of post-stroke shoulder pain: A randomized clinical trial

To evaluate if positioning the upper-limb promoting abduction, external rotation and flexion of the shoulder reduces the intensity of post-stroke shoulder pain at day-7 compared to usual clinical practice.

Prospective single-center randomized clinical trial using a superiority design comparing two preventive strategies of post-stroke shoulder pain in a stroke unit.

Patients were included within 2 days from a first symptomatic ischemic stroke affecting shoulder motor function.

Intervention group included specific positioning of the shoulder in abduction, external rotation and flexion in bed, chair and during mobilization. Control group referred to usual practice i.e. positioning using a standard support scarf.

Primary outcome was the intensity of shoulder pain assessed by the visual analog scale (VAS) (0-100) at day-7 post-stroke. Other outcomes measured at day-7 and 2 months post-stroke were the VAS, motor function, spasticity, depression, functional independence and rates of complex regional Pain syndrome (CRPS).

76 patients (49 males; mean age = 68.3) were randomized. The shoulder pain at day-7 was not different between the control group (16.1, SD = 27.4) and the intervention group (10.3, SD = 21.5, p = 0.18) as well as at 2 months (p = 0.12). A lower rate of depression was observed in the intervention group at 2 months 36.7% (CI95% 19.9;56.1) vs 52.9% (CI95% 35.1;70.2). No between-group difference in other outcomes was observed at 2 months.

This study failed to demonstrate the benefit of a specific positioning tool in reducing the intensity of post-stroke shoulder pain which was lower than previously reported in the literature.