Characteristics of shoulder pain among paraplegic wheelchair user

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore the characteristics of shoulder pain among paraplegic wheelchair user patients attended at CRP. Objectives: To calculate number of all paraplegia patients with shoulder pain from 10th February 2016 to 15th October 2016 among all paraplegia patients and percentage of this proportion; to explore socio demographic characteristics (age, sex, residential area) of paraplegia patients with shoulder pain; to measure the severity of shoulder pain with find out aggravating and ease factors. Methodology: A cross sectional design was carried out in this study. 30 paraplegia patients were convenience selected from SCI unit of CRP, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The tools used to collect data included direct interview, a body discomfort assessment tool that consists of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and a questionnaire. Data was collected by mixed type questionnaire and confidentiality of information and voluntarily participation were ensured by the researcher. Data were numerically coded and captured in Microsoft Excel 13, using an SPSS 19.0 version program. Results: The finding of the study was provided a baseline of information about caharacteristics of shoulder pain among paraplegic wheelchair user. The result of the study showed that, the severity of shoulder pain was (76.7% ) and (23.3%) was not suffered from shoulder pain among the paraplegia patients attended at CRP. The most affected age range is years of age 21-40 years of age (33.3% ). The severity of pain among the cases includes moderate pain (30% ), mild pain (53.3% ), severe pain is (0% ) and (16.7%) have no symptomps of pain. Most of the participants (70% ) pain had increased during movement whenever only (30% ) patient’s pain had increased during rest. Conclusion: From this study it is concluded that shoulder pain is the common problem of paraplegia wheelchair user patients. Prevention of shoulder pain is beneficial for paraplegia patients. To prevent shoulder pain, we should focus on awareness about the caharacteristics of shoulder pain among paraplegia patients and greater attention to be given to other risk factors such as history of shoulder injury and perception of health status after spinal cord injury. Key word: Shoulder pain, Characteristics, Paraplegia etc.