Pain in workers with shoulder impingement syndrome: an assessment using the DASH and McGill pain questionnaires

Abstract

Objective: This study assessed physical function and pain in male and female workers with shoulder impingement syndrome using the Brazilian Portuguese versions of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) and McGill pain questionnaires. Methods: Twenty-seven assembly line workers (18 men and 9 women; mean age of 33.26 ± 6.49 years) in the school supply industry were evaluated. The duration of the shoulder impingement pain was 31.74 ± 32.92 months and the amount of time of the workers in this industry was 11.08 ± 6.41 years. The DASH questionnaire was used to evaluate functional status and symptoms of the upper limbs of the workers. Using the McGill Pain Questionnaire, the pain was quantified by the number of words chosen and by the pain rating index (PRI). Results: The women presented higher scores (P< 0.05) than the men for both DASH overall and DASH work scores. The women chose more words (17.00 ± 2.59) than the men (13.33 ± 3.16) and also presented the highest total PRI (P< 0.05). Conclusions: The results obtained in this group of Brazilian workers with shoulder impingement identify the most commonly used descriptors of shoulder pain. Further, this study shows that females are more likely than males to refer physical disability and pain. Also, the DASH and McGill pain questionnaires are important and helpful tools in the clinical evaluation of shoulder impingement syndrome.