Relationship between musculoskeletal factors in the shoulder and upper limb function in patients with stroke: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Patients with stroke experience hemiparesis causing secondary problems like structural changes, malfunction, and low quality of life over time. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between shoulder musculoskeletal factors and the upper limb function in patients with stroke. Methods: Eighteen patients with hemiplegic stroke participated in this study. Acromion-greater tuberosity (AGD) distance and muscle thickness (supraspinatus and deltoid) were measured on both the affected and non-affected sides. Jebsen–Taylor Hand Function Test (JHFT) was undertaken to evaluate the patient’s upper limb function. The differences between affected and non-affected shoulder complex parameters, and the correlation between shoulder musculoskeletal factors and upper limb function were analysed. Results: All parameters were significantly different between the affected and non-affected sides (p < 0.05) except for the AGD. There was a moderate negative correlation between shoulder muscle thickness (supraspinatus and deltoid) and the upper limb function in the chronic hemiplegic stroke. Conclusion: This study confirmed that there is a relationship between supraspinatus, deltoid muscle, and the upper limb function. These results emphasise the importance of targeted interventions to prevent muscle atrophy and improve shoulder strength and provide valuable insights into the rehabilitation of chronic hemiplegic stroke in a clinical setting.