The Effect of Shoulder Pain on Sleep Quality

Abstract

Objective: Shoulder pain, a common musculoskeletal issue, is most prevalent in patients aged 50-59. It can cause sleep problems, reducing sleep quality. We aimed to explore the relationship between sleep quality, pain, and disability in patients with shoulder pain, despite limited literature on this issue.
 Material-Method: Study involved 91 patients aged 18-80 with persistent shoulder pain sought out at a physical medicine and rehabilitation outpatient clinic. Factors such as age, gender, education, symptom duration, body mass index (BMI), occupation, and pain severity were recorded. Severity of pain was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS), pain and disability using the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).
 Results: Average age was 54.9. 63% of patients were female and 28% were male. 14% of them had heavy work above shoulder level. A positive correlation was detected between PSQI and VAS and SPADI (p value 0.004 and 0.003, respectively). No significant relationship was found between PSQI and BMI and symptom duration (p value 0.464 and 0.718, respectively). While there was a significant difference in SPADI values between two groups with and without heavy work above the shoulder level, no significant difference was detected in PSQI values (p value 0.021 and 0.36, respectively).
 Conclusion: We found that the patient's VAS and SPADI values and sleep quality were negatively related to shoulder pain. Sleep disturbance due to pain at night can also affect daytime disability. Pain and sleep quality disorders can enter a vicious circle.