Abstract

Objective Complaints of the shoulder are often accompanied with pain, function lease and impaired quality of life. Inpatient rehabilitation in Austria acts as a powerful non-operative intervention to improve shoulder function and to reduce pain. The aim of this presented study was to observe the long-lasting effects of rehabilitation on shoulder complaints in a follow up trial. Design The impact of three-week inpatient rehabilitation on pain, sleep quality and shoulder function, respectively biomarkers for stress and pain was investigated in a multicenter study. Patients 150 inpatient rehabilitation patients with painful shoulder disorders were recruited to a follow up study (baseline, three weeks, three months, and six months). Methods Data were collected by standardized questionnaires concerning function and sleep quality. Pain intensity was determined by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Additional biomarkers for stress, pain and inflammation (CRP, Serotonin, ACTH, Dynorphin, ß-Endorphin) were analyzed by ELISA technique or HPLC. Results Many investigated parameters, mainly pain (VAS) and function (Quick Dash/Constant Murley score) improved significantly during and after the rehabilitation program. Fewer effects could be seen in the biomarkers in serum. Furthermore, the reduction of pain was not gender dependent. Conclusion The improvement of our main outcome parameters showed that an inpatient rehabilitation program has a long-lasting effect on pain and function in shoulder disabilities and is therefore very important for the improvement in quality of life.

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