The Effect of Shoulder Support on Shoulder Subluxation in Stroke Survivors Based on Ultrasonography Findings: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Zahra Miri, Elham Loni, Nazila Akbarfahimi et al.
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In 30 seconds
This single-blind randomized controlled trial assessed whether adding a standardized shoulder support to conventional rehabilitation improved shoulder subluxation, pain, upper-limb motor function, or independence in 40 stroke survivors with clinically confirmed shoulder subluxation. Participants received rehabilitation for seven weeks, with the intervention group also wearing support during waking hours. Both groups improved over time on the measured outcomes, but between-group comparisons found no significant differences for any outcome (p > 0.05). Thus, the trial did not demonstrate an additional benefit from shoulder support over conventional rehabilitation during the study period.
Key findings
- Both groups showed changes over time in subluxation (p = 0.02), pain (p < 0.001), upper-limb function (p < 0.05), and independence (p = 0.001).
- No outcome differed significantly between groups; all between-group comparisons had p > 0.05.
Why it matters
Shoulder support is sometimes added to rehabilitation for stroke-related subluxation, pain, and impaired arm function. In this trial, improvement occurred in both groups, while the added support did not produce a detectable advantage across the measured outcomes. The findings help distinguish improvement during a rehabilitation period from evidence that the support itself provides additional benefit.
What to keep in mind
The trial included 40 participants and followed outcomes for seven weeks. Because both groups received rehabilitation, changes over time cannot be separated from rehabilitation, spontaneous recovery, or other time-related factors.