Shoulder problems among people with paraplegic spinal cord injury

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the shoulder problems among paraplegic SCI patients who are independently propelling wheelchair. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the shoulder problems to find out association between shoulder problems and socio-demographic information of paraplegic SCI patients. Methods: The study design was cross-sectional. Total 60 samples were selected conveniently for this study from SCI Rehabilitation Unit of Physiotherapy Department at the Center for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP), Savar, Dhaka. Data was collected by using structural questionnaire and Wheelchair Users Pain Index Scale from the participants and analyzed through Statistical package of Social Science (SPSS) Version 20, Microsoft Office Excel 2019, Microsoft Office word. Results: In this study most commonly, affected age were more than 41 years 18.3%(n=11). About 76.7%(n=14) female and 23.3%(n=46) male. Almost 23.3%(n=14) students were more affected. 63.3%(n=38) married, 36%(n=22) were unmarried, 92% were from nuclear family, 86.7%(n=52) lived in rural areas, 23.3%(n=14) participants had secondary education, 62.6%(n=72) had history of co-morbidity,76.7%(n=46) had no co-morbidities and 6%(n=4) had multiple co-morbidities. About 40(34.8%) participants felt pain daily. The investigator had not found the strong positive association between WUSPI scale and Socio-demographic factor because p>0.05 however, association among comorbidities with WUSPI scale was statistically significant as P=0.021, association among limited activities with WUSPI scale was statistically significant as P=0.011, association among current shoulder pain with WUSPI scale statistically significant as P=0.015. Conclusion: The study results provided more insight about shoulder problems among people with paraplegic SCI. Awareness, proper positioning, rest, physiotherapy intervention can prevent the shoulder problems after SCI. Further research is needed to evaluate the rehabilitation for these patients. Key words: Paraplegic, Shoulder pain, Spinal Cord Injury, Wheelchair Users Pain Index scale. Word count: 9973