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Review
. 2023 Jun;23(3):229-238.
doi: 10.1136/pn-2022-003576. Epub 2023 Mar 7.

Managing painful shoulder after neurological injury

Celine Lakra  1 , Rachel Higgins  2 , Benjamin Beare  2 , Rachel Farrell  2   3 , Sara Ajina  2 , Sophia Burns  4 , Marcus Lee  4 , Orlando Swayne  2   5
Affiliations
Review

Managing painful shoulder after neurological injury

Celine Lakra et al. Pract Neurol. 2023 Jun.

Abstract

Shoulder pain is common after neurological injury and can be disabling, lead to poor functional outcomes and increase care costs. Its cause is multifactoral and several pathologies contribute to the presentation. Astute diagnostic skills and a multidisciplinary approach are required to recognise what is clinically relevant and to implement appropriate stepwise management. In the absence of large clinical trial data, we aim to provide a comprehensive, practical and pragmatic overview of shoulder pain in patients with neurological conditions. We use available evidence to produce a management guideline, taking into account specialty opinions from neurology, rehabilitation medicine, orthopaedics and physiotherapy.

Keywords: CLINICAL NEUROLOGY; HEMIPLEGIA; PAIN; REHABILITATION; STROKE.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: There are no directly competing interests. Full disclosures have been made and submitted via ICMJE forms.

Figures

Figure 2
Figure 2. Positioning in bed
Figure 3
Figure 3. Positioning in bed
Figure 4
Figure 4. Positioning in a chair
Figure 5
Figure 5. Transferring
Figure 1
Figure 1. Anatomy of the shoulder
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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