Painful Hemiplegic Shoulder: Mechanical Factors

Abstract

Shoulder pain is a frequent complication of hemiplegia. Eighty-four percent of patients may be affected. Etiology is not well-established, although a complex interaction between mechanical and neurological factors is suspected. The practitioner is therefore often confronted by failure in patient care. This article is a literature review of mechanical factors linked to pain, their effects and relative importance. Understanding these mechanisms will allow more precise classification of hemiplegic shoulder pain.