The clinical relevance of abnormal upper trunk posture for predicting shoulder impingement syndrome among stroke survivors / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the relevance of abnormal posture to the development of shoulder pain among stroke survivors.Methods A total of 102 stroke survivors were studied.Those with shoulder impingement syndrome or shoulder pain formed a shoulder pain group,while those without shoulder pain served as controls.The upper trunk sagittal sitting postures of all of the subjects were quantified using the thoracic and craniovertebral angles measured from photographs.Results The average craniovertebral angle of the shoulder pain group was significantly smaller than that of the control group,while the average thoracic angle of the former was significantly larger.The craniovertebral angles were negatively correlated with shoulder pain,while a large thoracic angle was positively correlated.Conclusion Thoracic and craniovertebral angles can be used as a predictor of shoulder impingement syndrome among stroke survivors.Stroke patients with thoracic kyphosis and forward head posture should undergo active rehabilitation.