Comparison of shoulder functions between assembly workers with and without subacromial pain syndrome

The occurrence of subacromial pain syndrome (SPS) is associated with the frequent handling and lifting of heavy loads and excessive repetitive work. Thus, assembly workers have a high prevalence of SPS.

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in shoulder ROM, muscle strength, asymmetry ratio, function, productivity, and depression between workers with and without SPS.

Sixty-seven male workers (35 workers with SPS and 32 workers without SPS) participated in this study. Shoulder internal rotation (SIR), shoulder external rotation (SER), shoulder abduction (SAB), shoulder horizontal adduction ROM and SIR, SER, elbow flexion (EF), scapular depression and adduction, scapular protraction strength were measured. The asymmetry ratio was calculated using the asymmetry ratio formula; shoulder functions were measured using the shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI), disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH), and visual analogue scale (VAS); and Endicott work productivity scale (EWPS).

The SPADI (p = 0.001), DASH (p = 0.001), and VAS (p = 0.001) values of workers with SPS were higher than those of workers without SPS. Also, workers with SPS had lower SIR (p = 0.001) and SAB (p = 0.002) ROM compared to workers without SPS. In addition, workers with SPS exhibited lower SIR (p = 0.012) strength than workers without SPS. Workers with SPS had higher asymmetry ratio in SIR (p = 0.015), SER (p = 0.005), and EF (p = 0.008) strength than workers without SPS.

The SIR, SAB ROM, SIR strength, and the asymmetry ratio of SIR, SER, EF strengths could provide an important baseline comparison for the workers with SPS.