The source of shoulder pain in hemiplegia.

Shoulder pain is a common problem in hemiplegia. This preliminary study attempted to identify pain-producing structures by evaluating the results of injecting 1% lidocaine into several sites in the shoulder area. Sixty-seven patients with shoulder problems were identified, examined, and characterized. The amount of pain was related most to loss of motion; it was unrelated to subluxation, spasticity, strength, or sensation. Of 28 patients who received a subacromial injection, approximately one-half obtained moderate or marked relief of pain and improved range of motion, suggesting that the subacromial area of the shoulder is a location of pain-producing structure in a significant number of cases.