Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate how health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and functional shoulder range of motion are affected among patients with diabetes with shoulder problems, treated with a specific physiotherapy programme. A further aim was to investigate how health-related quality of life, functional shoulder range of motion, pain intensity, and shoulder function correlate within the group of patients after the treatment period. Method: A pre-post treatment design was applied for a study group of ten patients with type 1 diabetes and shoulder problems. The physiotherapy treatment consisted of exercises promoting enhanced micro-circulation in the shoulder tissues, optimal shoulder co-ordination, and muscle relaxation. The Short Form-36 (SF-36), shoulder range of motion measures, the Shoulder Rating Scale - Swedish version, and pain intensity measures were used. The results regarding SF-36 were compared with the results of a control group of patients having either type 1 or type 2 diabetes and shoulder problems that did not receive any specific physiotherapy treatment. Results: As a potential result of physiotherapy training, a significant change towards higher scores was observed in the physical component summary (PCS) measure of SF-36. There was a significant improvement regarding PCS in the study group as compared with the control group. There were negative correlations between the four aspects of pain intensity and PCS and Shoulder Rating Scale - Swedish version, respectively, but a positive correlation between PCS and Shoulder Rating Scale - Swedish version. "Hand-raising" and "hand-behind-back" were significantly improved, and proved to be positively correlated with Shoulder Rating Scale - Swedish version. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that patients with type 1 diabetes and shoulder problems, treated with a specific physiotherapy programme, may improve with respect to physical aspects of health-related quality of life, and partially regain their range of motion in the shoulder joint. Based on these results, the associated treatment protocol may be recommended for physiotherapy treatment in such patients.

Keywords

Physiotherapy; health-related quality of life; diabetes; diabetic shoulder; shoulder function

Published in

Disability and Rehabilitation
2019, Volume: 41, number: 12, pages: 1435-1442
Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

SLU Authors

• Thierfelder, Tomas

  • Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Sustainable Development Goals

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages


UKÄ Subject classification

Physiotherapy


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2018.1430177

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/100154