Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2018 Aug 29;74(1):430.
doi: 10.4102/sajp.v74i1.430. eCollection 2018.

Effects of shoulder strapping in patients with stroke: A randomised control trial

Nicolette Comley-White  1 , Witness Mudzi  1 , Eustasius Musenge  2
Affiliations

Effects of shoulder strapping in patients with stroke: A randomised control trial

Nicolette Comley-White et al. S Afr J Physiother. .

Abstract

Background: Disability post stroke remains a global problem, with upper limb involvement playing a key role. Shoulder strapping is one of the techniques used clinically to address this.

Objectives: To compare the effect of two shoulder strapping techniques in patients with stroke.

Method: A longitudinal randomised controlled trial included baseline, weeks one, two and six assessments of 56 participants with upper limb hemiplegia. The participants were assessed for shoulder subluxation, shoulder pain, upper limb motor function and muscle tone. They were randomised into control, longitudinal strapping or circumferential strapping groups.

Results: Longitudinal strapping had a non-significant decrease in shoulder subluxation and pain (p > 0.05). Circumferential strapping had no significant effect on any outcomes; however, it prevented the shoulder pain from worsening as much as in the control group (p > 0.05). General improvement in upper limb motor function was observed for all three groups.

Conclusion: Trends in improvement showed that longitudinal strapping could be recommended because it positively influenced shoulder subluxation and pain. Even without significant changes, strapping creates awareness of the limb in patients and caregivers and could be of clinical benefit.

Clinical implication: Longitudinal strapping of the shoulder in patients with stroke seems to positively influence shoulder subluxation and pain.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Longitudinal strapping.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Circumferential strapping.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Flowchart showing participant recruitment and assessment.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Distribution of participants’ upper limb changes over 6 weeks.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Ada L. & Foongchomcheay A, 2002, ‘Efficacy of electrical stimulation in preventing or reducing subluxation of the shoulder after stroke: A meta-analysis’, Australian Journal of Physiotherapy 48, 257–267. 10.1016/S0004-9514(14)60165-3 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Ada L., Foongchomcheay A. & Canning C, 2009, ‘Supportive devices for preventing and treating subluxation of the shoulder after stroke (Review)’, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 4, 1–23. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ada L., O’Dwyer N. & O’Neill E, 2006, ‘Relation between spasticity, weakness and contracture of the elbow flexors and upper limb activity after stroke: An observational study’, Disability and Rehabilitation 28, 891–897. 10.1080/09638280500535165 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Ancliffe J, 1992, ‘Strapping the shoulder in patients following a cerebrovascular accident: (CVA) A pilot study’, Australian Journal of Physiotherapy 38, 37–41. 10.1016/S0004-9514(14)60549-3s - DOI - PubMed
    1. Ansari N., Naghdi S., Arab T. & Jalaie S, 2008, ‘The interrater and intrarater reliability of the Modified Ashworth Scale in the assessment of muscle spasticity: Limb and muscle group effect’, Neurorehabilitation 23, 231–237. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources