Shoulder pain in hemiplegia.

Shoulder pain is a common complication in poststroke hemiplegia that reduces functional recovery. Many types of shoulder pathology have been suggested as causes of shoulder pain in hemiplegia,including shoulder subluxation, capsulitis, tendinitis, rotator cuff injury, bursitis, impingement syndrome, spasticity, complex regional pain syndrome, brachial plexus injury, and proximal mononeuropathies. More than one type of pathology may exist in a given patient. Shoulder pain improves in many cases with prompt diagnosis and appropriate management. Although the relationship between subluxation and pain is controversial, upper limb support to reduce subluxation is the standard of care and may prevent the development of pain and secondary complications. Further work is needed to elucidate the natural history of shoulder pain in hemiplegia, including the identification of physiologic common denominators that can lead to improved strategies to treat and prevent shoulder pain.