The Effects of Active Shoulder Exercise with a Sling Suspension System on Shoulder Subluxation, Proprioception, and Upper Extremity Function in Patients with Acute Stroke.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of active shoulder exercise with a sling suspension system on shoulder subluxation, proprioception, and upper extremity function in patients with acute stroke. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty-six patients with acute stroke and shoulder subluxation were randomly assigned into two groups. The study group (n=18) received active shoulder exercise with a sling suspension system, and the control group (n=18) received bilateral arm training for 40 minutes, for five days a week, for four weeks. The outcome measures before and after the intervention included measurement of shoulder subluxation distance, shoulder proprioception, the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) scale, and the manual function test (MFT). RESULTS Comparison of the study group with the control group showed significant differences in all outcome scores post-intervention (p<0.05). The study group had significant improvement in shoulder subluxation distance, shoulder proprioception, the FMA score, and the MFT compared with the control group. There was a significant difference in shoulder subluxation (p=0.001), shoulder proprioception (p=0.046), the FMA score (p=0.002), and the MFT (p=0.007) between the two groups, which favored the study group. CONCLUSIONS Active shoulder exercise with a sling suspension system may be effective in reducing shoulder subluxation, improving proprioception, and upper extremity function in patients following acute stroke.