Short answer

Incorporate pain management and shoulder support features into designs for stroke recovery products and environments.

Field
Human Factors
Source
Frontiers in Neurology (2023)
Method
Observational study
Sample
239 participants
Evidence
Strong effect

Hemiplegic shoulder pain is a prevalent complication following stroke, significantly affecting an individual's ability to perform daily activities and hindering motor function recovery. This human factors research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Frontiers in Neurology. Using Observational study with 239 participants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Incorporate pain management and shoulder support features into designs for stroke recovery products and environments.

Study
Human FactorsRecentStrong effect

Post-stroke shoulder pain impacts daily living and rehabilitation outcomes.

Hemiplegic shoulder pain is a prevalent complication following stroke, significantly affecting an individual's ability to perform daily activities and hindering motor function recovery.

Frontiers in Neurology · 2023

01

Key Findings

  • 01The prevalence of hemiplegic shoulder pain was over 55% at admission and remained high at 2 and 4 months post-stroke.
  • 02Shoulder pain was more common in women, patients with larger strokes, increased biceps or triceps muscle tension, shoulder subluxation, and limited passive range of motion.
  • 03Patients experiencing shoulder pain had significantly lower abilities in daily living activities compared to those without pain.
  • 04Supraspinatus tendon thickening was the most common lesion observed via ultrasonography in patients with shoulder pain.
02

Application

Design takeaway

Incorporate pain management and shoulder support features into designs for stroke recovery products and environments.

How to apply

When designing products or services for stroke survivors, prioritize features that reduce stress on the shoulder joint and facilitate pain-free movement.

Project actions

  • 01Consider how your design might inadvertently exacerbate shoulder pain in users with physical impairments.
  • 02Investigate existing assistive devices for stroke survivors and identify areas for improvement related to shoulder comfort and support.
03

Method & Evidence

AimWhat is the prevalence of post-stroke shoulder pain in middle-aged and elderly individuals, what are its associated risk factors, and how does it influence stroke recovery outcomes?
MethodObservational study
ProcedureResearchers screened stroke patients in a rehabilitation unit, collected basic clinical information, measured shoulder range of motion, glenohumeral subluxation, muscle tension, and upper limb activity of daily living. Blood tests and shoulder ultrasonography were also performed. Patients were followed up at 2 and 4 months.
Sample239 participants
ContextStroke rehabilitation

Variables

IV["Gender","Stroke type/location","Muscle tension (biceps brachii, triceps brachii)","Glenohumeral subluxation","Passive range of motion of the shoulder","Supraspinatus tendon thickness"]
DV["Prevalence of hemiplegic shoulder pain","Ability of daily living of upper limb"]
CV["Age (middle-aged and elderly population)","Stroke recovery period (followed up at 2 and 4 months)","Hypertension history","Atrial fibrillation history"]
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Large sample size for an observational study in this specific population.
  • +Longitudinal follow-up at multiple time points (2 and 4 months).

Limitations

The study's sample size, while adequate for its aims, might not capture the full spectrum of variations in hemiplegic shoulder pain. The specific rehabilitation settings may also influence outcomes.

Reliability & validity

The study's reliability is supported by the use of standardized measurements and a defined follow-up protocol. Validity is enhanced by the inclusion of multiple data sources (clinical data, physical measurements, imaging) to assess the complex phenomenon of shoulder pain.

Think critically

How might the design of everyday objects, beyond specialized rehabilitation equipment, inadvertently contribute to or alleviate hemiplegic shoulder pain?

05

Design Principles

"Design interventions that mitigate secondary complications like hemiplegic shoulder pain to optimize functional recovery."

Understanding the prevalence and risk factors of hemiplegic shoulder pain is crucial for designing effective rehabilitation strategies and assistive devices. Addressing this pain can lead to improved patient outcomes and a better quality of life.

06

What This Means for Your Design

Many stroke patients get shoulder pain, which makes it hard for them to move their arm and do everyday tasks, slowing down their recovery.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Use this study to justify the importance of addressing hemiplegic shoulder pain in your design project, particularly if your target user group includes stroke survivors.
  • 2.Cite the prevalence rates and identified risk factors to support your design decisions and user needs analysis.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research underscores the significant challenge of hemiplegic shoulder pain post-stroke, affecting over 55% of patients and substantially hindering their daily living activities and rehabilitation progress. The identified risk factors, including gender, stroke severity, muscle tension, and limited shoulder mobility, provide critical insights for designing supportive and pain-mitigating solutions for this user group.

09

Source

Frontiers in Neurology

Prevalence, risk factor and outcome in middle-aged and elderly population affected by hemiplegic shoulder pain: An observational study

journal · 2023

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about post-stroke shoulder pain impacts daily living and rehabilitation outcomes?
Incorporate pain management and shoulder support features into designs for stroke recovery products and environments. Evidence: Frontiers in Neurology (2023).
Why does "Post-stroke shoulder pain impacts daily living and rehabilitation outcomes." matter for design?
Understanding the prevalence and risk factors of hemiplegic shoulder pain is crucial for designing effective rehabilitation strategies and assistive devices. Addressing this pain can lead to improved patient outcomes and a better quality of life.
How can designers apply this research?
Incorporate pain management and shoulder support features into designs for stroke recovery products and environments.
What were the main findings?
The prevalence of hemiplegic shoulder pain was over 55% at admission and remained high at 2 and 4 months post-stroke.. Shoulder pain was more common in women, patients with larger strokes, increased biceps or triceps muscle tension, shoulder subluxation, and limited passive range of motion.. Patients experiencing shoulder pain had significantly lower abilities in daily living activities compared to those without pain.. Supraspinatus tendon thickening was the most common lesion observed via ultrasonography in patients with shoulder pain.
What research method was used?
Observational study with 239 participants.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2023 journal from Frontiers in Neurology.
What should I do differently in my next project?
When designing products or services for stroke survivors, prioritize features that reduce stress on the shoulder joint and facilitate pain-free movement.
What are the limitations?
The study focused on middle-aged and elderly populations; findings may differ in younger individuals. The observational nature means causality cannot be definitively established.