Shoulder supports in patients with hypotonicity following stroke

Bernath V
Record ID 32003000680
English
Authors' objectives:

This aim of this report was to assess whether the use of shoulder supports prevents subluxation and improves function in patients with hypotonicity following stroke compared to no use of shoulder supports.

Authors' recommendations: - Five studies were found which met the inclusion and exclusion criteria for our search. - Two studies, which examined the effectiveness of a particular type of shoulder support over time, failed to demonstrate any benefits of the intervention on shoulder subluxation or maintenance of function. - Three studies measured the effectiveness of several types of shoulder support on shoulder subluxation at the time of application. However, there is no evidence that initial reduction of subluxation is related to long term prevention of subluxation or maintenance of long term functionality of the joint. - There were problems with the methodology of the retrieved studies that included: - Inadequate description of patient characteristics, especially time from onset of stroke to entry into the studies - Lack of control for concomitant use of other therapies - Possible difference in the skill and care with which the supports were applied - Accuracy of methods of measuring subluxation There is no evidence that the use of shoulder supports in patients with hypotonicity following stroke is effective in preventing subluxation or improving or maintaining shoulder function.
Authors' methods: Review
Details
Project Status: Completed
Year Published: 2001
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: Australia
MeSH Terms
  • Orthotic Devices
  • Shoulder
  • Stroke
Contact
Organisation Name: Centre for Clinical Effectiveness
Contact Address: Monash Institute of Health Services Research, Block E, Monash Medical Centre, Locked Bag 29, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia. Tel: +61 3 9594 7505; Fax: +61 3 9594 7552.
Contact Name: cce@med.monash.edu.au.
Contact Email: cce@med.monash.edu.au.
Copyright: Centre for Clinical Effectiveness (CCE)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.