The association between number of shoulder diagnoses and positive clinical tests with self-reported function and pain: A cross-sectional study of patients with hypermobile joints and shoulder complaints

Frederik Kjærbæk*, Birgit Juul-Kristensen, Søren T. Skou, Jens Søndergaard, Eleanor Boyle, Karen Søgaard, Behnam Liaghat

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

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Abstract

Background Patients with hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD) and shoulder complaints may suffer from symptoms related to shoulder instability, laxity, and hypermobility. It is currently unknown whether having a more complex clinical status with several diagnoses (i.e., anterior instability (AI), multidirectional instability (MDI), and/or symptomatic localised shoulder hypermobility (LSH), relates to higher functional impairments and pain. Objectives To investigate the associations between either ≤1, 2, or 3 clinical shoulder diagnoses (AI, MDI, and LSH) or the number (0–10) of positive clinical shoulder tests with shoulder function using the western Ontario shoulder instability index (WOSI, 0–2100, 0 = best) and pain intensity using numerical pain rating scale (NPRS, 0–10, 10 = worse). Design Exploratory cross-sectional study. Method From a randomised controlled trial, baseline data from 100 participants with HSD and shoulder complaints for at least three months were included. Associations were investigated using linear regression models, adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, and hand dominance. Results Compared with having ≤1 diagnosis, neither participants with two (WOSI 76.9, 95% CI -136.3, 290.0; NPRS 0.3, 95% CI -0.9, 1.5) nor three (WOSI 35.5, 95% CI -178.5, 249.6; NPRS 0.1, 95% CI -1.1, 1.3) clinical shoulder diagnoses had significantly worse shoulder function or pain. Likewise, the number of positive clinical shoulder tests was not associated with function (WOSI -20.8 95%CI (−55.3, 13.7)) or pain (NPRS -0.1 95%CI (−0.2, 0.1)). Conclusions In participants with HSD and shoulder complaints, having more additional shoulder diagnoses or increased number of positive shoulder tests were not related to functional impairments or pain intensities.
Original languageEnglish
Article number102624
JournalMusculoskeletal Science and Practice
Volume62
ISSN2468-7812
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2022

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