Hemiplegic Shoulder Power Point for staff education sessions

Presented by Cathy McBay and Candace Coe

HHS Annual Review March 7 and 7, 2018

www.swostroke.ca Overview

• Structure of the Shoulder Complex • Low Tone Upper Limb • Hemi Arm protocol • High Tone Upper Limb • Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain Hemi Sling Application Structure

GLENOHUMERAL JOINT • Ball and socket joint. • Stability sacrificed for mobility.

MUSCULAR CONTROL • muscles • Scapular and trunk muscles Biomechanics: Arm Elevation

• 0-90 degrees • Primarily arm (ie:humerus) movement • Little movement in shoulder blade (scapula)

• Above 90 degrees • To allow normal movement and prevent impingement of rotator cuff tendons the shoulder blade MUST

o Rotate up

o Glide along rib cage Low Tone Shoulder

• Most common in initial stages following stroke.

• Results from damage to the motor pathways innervating the upper limb muscles.

• Low tone shoulders are highly susceptible to damage of the structures surrounding the shoulder (muscles, tendons, ligaments).

• Preventing subluxation is crucial in the early stages of stroke recovery- critical role for all team members Low Tone Shoulder

• Pathoanatomy of Subluxed Shoulder • Flaccid or low tone muscles at shoulder and trunk lead to altered alignment of scapula and humerus.

• Stabilizing muscles not present

• Muscles overstretch due to weight of arm in dependent position.

• Inferior subluxation is most common Shoulder Subluxation

• Consequences of shoulder subluxation:

• Irreversible of ligaments, tendons and capsule leading to instability at the joint.

• Structural changes hamper recovery of muscle activity in shoulder complex.

• Injury to brachial plexus.

• Chronic shoulder pain. Shoulder Subluxation Management of Low Tone Shoulder

• Positioning • Support low tone arm at all times:

o Use pillows, slings, lap trays

o Slings should be worn during transfers or ambulation only. They should be removed during sitting or in bed.

o In sitting, position shoulder in slight flexion, abduction and external rotation; forearm in pronation and hand in open weightbearing position.

o Pay attention to position of pelvis and trunk alignment when sitting. Sitting In Wheelchair Sitting In Bed Rolling to Hemiplegic Side Lying On Hemiplegic Side Rolling to Unaffected Side Lying on Unaffected Side Management of the Low Tone Shoulder • Handling…Be Gentle!! o Avoid lifting through underarm or pulling on arm to move patient. Instead grasp upper trunk near scapula to move the person.

o Bed mobility: Hemi-arm out of way when rolling onto affected side. No pulling on hemi-arm when rolling onto unaffected side.

o Support both the humerus and hand when moving the affected limb to position or dress patient.

o Do not move arm beyond 90 degrees elevation.

o Dressing Rule for hemiplegia: “First on; last off”.

• NOTE: Shoulder pain occurs more frequently in patients who are dependent for transfers. The Hemiplegic Arm Protocol

Hemiplegic Shoulder Best Practice Positioning And Handling Protocol Objective The hemiplegic upper extremity will be protected from injury by being properly handled during mobility and transfers and properly positioned in bed or wheelchair, according to the positioning protocol diagrams for all patients meeting the criteria for the protocol. Inclusion Criteria

• Hemiplegic arm is flaccid.

• And/or patient is unable to lift arm off bed to 90°.

• And/or the arm is painful. Procedure

• OT/PT assesses patients for protocol inclusion criteria • All disciplines adhere to implementation of the protocol • Patients meeting criteria will receive: • A hemi sling at bedside • Hemi sling application directions posted at bedside High Tone Upper Limb

Frequently occurs later post stroke. Natural recovery may include high tone as a temporary phase or a permanent consequence. Good early management of possible severe long term consequences is important.

High muscle tone or : • increased state of excitability of muscle stretch reflexes. • Speed and position dependent. • Stiffness, spasms High Tone Upper Limb

Consequences of high tone: • Impaired skin care (axilla and hand) • Impaired ADLs (dressing) • Impaired range of motion: permanent • Shoulder pain High Tone Upper Limb

• “Flexor Pattern” Management of the High Tone Upper Limb

• Positioning

• Promote position that is opposite to flexor pattern • Position for extended periods of time (up to 1 hour or more) to promote lengthening of the tight muscles • Use pillows, airsplints, thermoplastic splints or casting as required • Consider a referral to the Spasticity Management Clinic: a team of a Physiatrist, RN, and OT/PT can facilitate pharmaceutical (BOTOX) treatment, splinting etc. Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain

• Incidence of Shoulder Pain • Up to 1/3 of adult stroke patients within the first year

• Signs and Symptoms • Pain located in shoulder, may radiate down arm.

• Pain worse with movement especially external rotation, abduction and flexion of GH joint.

• Pain may be present constantly and interfere with sleep. Questions?