Shoulder pain and functional consequences: does it differ when it is at dominant side or not?

Purpose: The shoulder complex plays an integral role in the activities of daily living and the limitation of its function can greatly affect the patient. The aim of this study was to research the functional consequences of painful conditions in the shoulder region.

Methods: Sixty five adult patients with shoulder pain for longer than one month in duration were included to the study. Dominant hands of the patients were determined. The subjects were divided into two groups: shoulder pain at the dominant upper extremity (Group I) or the nondominant one (Group II). The subjects were evaluated for shoulder pain with visual analog scale (VAS), range of motion and functional status with the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire.

Results: In Group I, DASH score was significantly correlated with the VAS score measuring the pain during activity (p< 0.0001, r=0,625). In Group II, no relationship between DASH score, VAS scores and any other parameters was detected.

Conclusion: The most important parameter disturbing the daily living of a patient with shoulder disease is the pain at the shoulder of dominant extremity occurring in active movement.