Effect of Shoulder Stability Exercises on Functional Hand Grip in Guillain–Barré Syndrome

Abstract Background: Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the myelin sheaths of the peripheral nervous system. A prevalent factor is the primary weakness of proximal muscles. This weakness in the upper limbs can significantly impact hand function and create challenges when performing daily activities. The focus of this study was to assess the impact of shoulder stability exercises on enhancing functional hand grip in individuals affected by GBS. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted in the Neuro Physiotherapy Department of the Krishna Vishwa Vidhyapeeth Deemed University, Karad. A total of 24 participants diagnosed with GBS were enrolled. In this study, subjects were randomly allocated to either the experimental or control groups. The experimental group undertook 45 min exercise sessions for 6 weeks. The shoulder stability exercises involved quadruped static positions, ball holding against the wall, prone static positions, and side sitting on both hands. The control group performed exercises for the upper limb, electrical stimulation, and hand muscle strengthening exercises. Functional outcomes were measured with the help of two tests: the modified sphygmomanometer test (MST) and the Box and Block test (BBT). Results: Randomization assigned 12 participants to each group. After 6 weeks, the participants in the experimental group had improved their right- and left-hand grip by 40.9 mmHg (95% confidence interval [CI]: 30.15–51.5) and 29.2 mmHg (95% CI: 19.3–39.3), respectively, more than those in the control group. These participants had also improved their right and left-hand function by 6.5 blocks (95% CI: 4.09–8.90) and 2.16 blocks (95% CI: 0.3–3.9), respectively, more than those in the control group. Conclusion: Functional hand grip improved substantially after shoulder stability exercise. The evidence suggests that these exercises optimize hand muscle recruitment by stimulating joint proprioceptors.