Avaliação da força de preensão manual e sua correlação com a funcionalidade do membro superior em indivíduos com e sem dor no ombro

Abstract

Introduction: The shoulder complex, essential for upper limb mobility, can exhibit muscular and biomechanical alterations in cases of musculoskeletal disorders, where pain is a commonly associated symptom. Thus, this study aims to determine whether individuals with shoulder pain show reduced handgrip strength compared to individuals without pain, as well as to investigate the correlation between handgrip strength and upper limb functionality. Materials and Methods: This study included individuals with and without shoulder pain, of both sexes, aged between 18 and 68 years. All participants signed the Informed Consent Form and were subsequently administered the questionnaires and the other assessments. Self-reported function was assessed using the Cochin Hand Functional Scale (COCHIN), Penn Shoulder Score (Penn), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK). Functional performance was measured with the Shoulder Performance Activity Test (SPAT), and maximum handgrip strength was assessed using a handheld dynamometer. Pain (0–10) and perceived effort (0–10) were evaluated after each test. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 20.0). The Student's t-test was used to compare variables between groups, one-way ANOVA to compare variables across limbs, and Pearson's correlation test to assess the relationship between handgrip strength, upper limb functionality, and kinesiophobia (p < 0.05). Results: The study included 30 participants, 16 with shoulder pain and 14 without pain. A difference in handgrip strength was identified between the affected side of the group with pain and the group without pain (p = 0.02). Individuals with pain showed reduced upper limb functionality. Handgrip strength demonstrated a significant and moderate correlation with the SPADI (r = -0.40), TSK (r = -0.52), and SPAT (r = -0.40) questionnaires. A significant but weak correlation was also observed with the COCHIN (r = -0.39) and Penn (r = 0.27) questionnaires. Conclusion: Handgrip strength is lower on the affected side of individuals with unilateral shoulder pain compared to healthy individuals without pain. Furthermore, this handgrip strength showed a moderate correlation with upper limb functionality