Shoulder Injury and Pain Among Person’s With Spinal Cord Injury

Over 11,000 individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) are affected each year within the United States resulting in the loss of lower limb function, with 30% – 50% encountering shoulder pain and injury as a result of exorbitant stress typically caused by mobility, locomotion, and prehension (Popowitz et al., 2003). In addition, the shoulder has been a primary joint associated with injury and pain of individuals with SCI with a prevalence of 30% • 70% with musculoskeletal disorders and shoulder pain complications that increase in age in comparison to the general population (Apple, 2001; Gellman, Sie, & Waters, 1988; Pentland & Twomey, 1994b; Curtis et al., 1999; Gironda, Clark, Neugaard, & Nelson, 2004; Samuelsson, Tropp, & Gerdle, 2004). Among the most common secondary complications that persons with SCI will develop, shoulder injuries and repetitive shoulder use account for over 71% of pain in the upper extremities, followed by wrist pain (53%), hand pain (43%), and elbow pain (35%) (Dalyan, Cardenas, & Gerard, 1999).