The Effects of Comprehensive Occupational Therapy for Hemiplegic Upper-extremity both with Rotator Cuff Calcific Tendinopathy and Shoulder Subluxation：A Case Report / The Japanese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine

ABSTRACT

Shoulder subluxation, a risk factor for hemiplegic shoulder pain, is an important target to treat during stroke rehabilitation. Calcific tendinitis is an idiopathic condition characterized by calcium deposition over fibrocartilaginous tenocyte metaplasia that inhibits the efficacy of occupational therapy for the treatment of stroke. To provide comprehensive occupational therapy, we provided repetitive facilitative exercise under continuous neuromuscular electrical stimulation and robot-assisted training, while controlling pain, for fourteen weeks in a case of convalescent post-stroke hemiplegia with rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy and shoulder subluxation. As a result, this comprehensive occupational therapy not only improved upper-extremity function and the ability to manipulate objects, but also reduced calcified deposits. Shoulder subluxation with calcifying tendinitis is rare. There is a possibility that calcified deposits below the acromion may push down the humeral head. Sufficient rest and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs during the acute inflammatory stage may be helpful for the melting and resorption of calcified deposits. In addition, the appropriate and comprehensive occupational therapy may contribute to the effects of upper-extremity hemiplegia with calcific tendinitis and shoulder subluxation.