The Prevalence of Shoulder Pain and Awareness of Frozen Shoulder Among the General Population in Taif City, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background The global prevalence of shoulder pain varies widely across countries. Additionally, shoulder pain and frozen shoulder can significantly affect patients' quality of life due to high levels of pain and disability. Objective This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of shoulder pain and its risk factors. It also aims to assess the level of knowledge regarding frozen shoulders and its related factors in Taif City, Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in Taif City in December 2023 using a validated questionnaire comprised of socio-demographic characteristics, the prevalence of shoulder pain, and the awareness of frozen shoulders. Results A total of 378 participants enrolled in the study, with 54.8% being male and 62.7% being graduates and having jobs equally distributed among office (24.9%) and in the field (24.9%). Most participants were smokers (75.9%) and did not engage in body-building activities (79.6%). Around 26.5% of them had diabetes. The prevalence of shoulder pain was 32.8%. Aging from 35 to 44 years (p<0.001), having a higher salary from 6000 to 10000 SAR (p<0.001), retirement (p<0.001), engaging in body-building activities (p=0.035), having diabetes (p<0.001), and having other comorbidities (p<0.001) are significantly impacted having shoulder pain. Increased knowledge about the frozen shoulder is correlated with aging from 25-34 (p=0.026), smoking (p=0.002), engaging in bodybuilding (p<0.001), having diabetes (p=0.010), and having other medical conditions (p=0.010). Conclusion The study has shown that shoulder pain is prevalent among Taif City's population. Nevertheless, a low level of knowledge was observed. Therefore, enhancing the national educational programs is needed to increase public awareness of frozen shoulders.