Pain, functional disability, psychological status, and health-related quality of life in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome

Abstract

Background: Subacromial Impingement Syndrome (SAIS) is the comments painful shoulder condition leading to considerable functional loss. Considering numerous existing conservative and surgical interventions for SAIS, the use of optimal patient-centred outcome measures is essential. Study assessed various generic and shoulder-specific outcome measures in patients and healthy controls to provide baseline data and facilitate the development of evidence-based interventions. Methods: A total of 75 participants including 39 patients and 36 healthy controls were evaluated and compared by a battery of validated outcome tools: McGill Pain Questionnaire, Oxford Shoulder Score, Constant Murley Score, The Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand, Upper Limb Function Index, Functional Impairment Test-Hand and Neck/Shoulder/Arm, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Short-Form Health Survey, and shoulder muscle strength. Results: All selected measures showed significant differences in the pain experience, upper limb functional capacity, psychological status (anxiety and depression), and health-related quality of life between SAIS patients and healthy controls in both female and male participant groups (p < 0.05–p < 0.001). Conclusion: The use of an array of patient-centred upper limb regional/joint-specific pain and functional measures combined with psychological status and quality of life tools is recommended for the evidence-based assessment of intervention outcome in patients with SAIS.

Keywords

• subacromial impingement syndrome
• upper limb function
• outcome assessment
• quality of life
• psychological status