Do Shoulder Disability Associate with Shoulder Pain Intensity, Mobility and Fear of Movement in Patients with Shoulder Dysfunction?

Shoulder dysfunction often leads to pain and movement restrictions, interfering with daily activities such as dressing and bathing. These limitations affect the physical, psychological, and social well-being of patients, resulting in shoulder-related disability. Due to inconsistent findings in previous research, this study aimed to investigate the association of shoulder disability with pain intensity, mobility, and fear of movement in individuals with chronic shoulder dysfunction. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 113 participants (both genders), aged 21–65 years, with chronic shoulder dysfunction. The Penn Shoulder Score (PSS) was used to assess shoulder disability. Pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), range of motion (ROM) was evaluated with goniometry, and fear of movement was assessed using the Fear-Avoidance Belief Questionnaire (FABQ). Spearman’s rank correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were performed. A strong negative correlation was found between shoulder disability and pain intensity (r = -0.78). Moderate positive correlations were observed between disability and shoulder ROM: flexion (r = 0.14), abduction (r = 0.32), external rotation (r = 0.44), and internal rotation (r = 0.30). A weak negative correlation was found between disability and fear of movement (r = -0.173). Regression analysis revealed that VAS, flexion, and external rotation significantly predicted disability (p < 0.05). Shoulder disability is strongly associated with pain intensity and moderately with shoulder mobility. Fear of movement shows a weak association with shoulder disability in individuals with chronic shoulder dysfunction. Key words: Kinesiophobia, Visual Analogue Scale, Penn Shoulder Score, Fear- Avoidance Belief, Shoulder Pain, Disability.