Comparison of Muscle Endurance and Balance in Patients with Shoulder Impingement and Healthy Controls

Abstract Aim; Chronic pain has been theorized to hinder balance control by compromising muscle endurance. Despite this theoretical connection, there is limited empirical evidence on this phenomenon, especially in patients diagnosed with shoulder impingement. This study aims to investigate muscle endurance, balance measures, and indicators of shoulder dysfunction in patients with impingement, comparing them with age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Method; In this cross-sectional study, patients (n=31) with shoulder impingement and healthy controls (n=23) matched for age and gender were compared with regard to their balance ability and physical performance. Functional questionnaires (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) as well as Single-Leg Stance Balance Test (SLBT), Y Balance test, Scapular Endurance Test, Trunk muscle flexor and extensor test, grip strength and Nine-Hole Peg Test (NHPT) were completed in a randomized order with consistent raters. Results; Patients with shoulder pain showed significantly worse results in measurements of shoulder function (p<0.01), scapular and trunk muscle endurance (p<0.01), as well as balance dominant/nondominant balance ability right/left (p<0.01) compared to healthy controls. Conclusion; Patients with shoulder impingement had lower muscle endurance balance and hand measurements compared with healthy people. This difference was statistically significant. Health and fitness specialists should take into account the risk-related adjustments associated to balance when recommending upper-extremity exercises in patients with shoulder impingement.