The use of the Varney brace for subluxating shoulders in stroke and upper motor neuron injuries

Abstract

Applying the Varney shoulder brace for painful subluxating shoulders in stroke and head injury patients with or without spasticity has proved to be an extremely effective means of reducing the subluxed shoulder. Other causes for painful shoulders in these patients must be ruled out. Not every shoulder which subluxes with or without spasticity is painful. Correct diagnosis of the etiology of the pain is essential to help the patient. Rotator cuff tendinitis, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, glenohumeral arthritis, shoulder contracture, pain due to central nervous system origin (thalmic pain) and other intrinsic causes of referred pain must be ruled out. Once the subluxed shoulder is proven to be the cause of pain, the Varney brace is an excellent orthosis for the reduction and maintenance of position. Pain usually subsides completely within 5 to 7 days.