Introduction of a new shoulder orthosis to treat shoulder pain (PS) in the severely affected arm in patients during early rehabilitation after stroke

Zusammenfassung We report on a new shoulder orthosis to treat shoulder pain (PS) in the severely affected arm after stroke. The patient wears the orthosis directly on the skin. It consists of two pieces: a shoulder and a forearm part, which are connected by straps to ensure that the forearm can perform extension and supination. To date, the orthosis was fitted to twelve early-rehabilitation patients with a severely paretic arm who either suffered from PS already or presented with a distinct subluxation. The patients reported high wearing comfort with no unpleasant odour emanating from the orthosis. The seven patients who had initially presented with PS reported a relevant reduction of shoulder pain. However, this feedback was not consistent with the rater’s findings. In three of the five patients who were included in the trial due to a diagnosed subluxation, the gap closed completely after four weeks. The remaining two patients reported a gap reduction. None of these patients developed PS during the intervention period. In conclusion, the orthosis is considered an interesting option for the prevention or treatment of PS. Further studies are required.