Efficacy of Physical Modalities for Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain After Stroke: A Systematic Review.
Stefania Spina, Salvatore Facciorusso, Milena Carmela D'Ascanio et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review evaluated the efficacy of physical modalities for managing hemiplegic shoulder pain (HSP) in stroke survivors, analyzing 12 randomized controlled trials with 567 participants. The review found that most interventions, including electrotherapy, shock wave therapy, and laser therapy, significantly reduced pain compared to control groups. However, the evidence quality was low to very low.
Key findings
- Most studies reported significant pain reduction with physical modalities compared to control.
- Electrotherapy provided sustained analgesia for hemiplegic shoulder pain.
- Extracorporeal shock wave therapy improved structural abnormalities and pain.
- Adverse events were mostly mild, but reporting was inconsistent.
Why it matters
Understanding the effectiveness of physical modalities for HSP is crucial for developing comprehensive rehabilitation strategies. Clinicians can consider these modalities as part of a multimodal approach to improve patient outcomes following stroke.
What to keep in mind
Heterogeneity in interventions and outcomes precluded meta-analysis, and safety conclusions are limited by inconsistent adverse event reporting.