To discover whether there are differences between patients with RA with and without active motion deficit in the shoulder (passive ROM greater than active ROM) concerning disease characteristics and shoulder function, and examine the role of active motion deficit in explaining limitations of shoulder function in daily life.
This cross-sectional study included 123 patients with RA having shoulder pain. Disease activity and duration of shoulder pain and disease were registered, active and passive shoulder ROM, pain and muscle strength were measured. Shoulder function in daily life was assessed by Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH).
Patients with active motion deficit (36%) had statistical significant worse scores on disease activity, shoulder pain, muscle strength, and DASH function than those without active motion deficit (p ≤ 0.05). No differences between the groups were found for duration of shoulder pain or disease (p > 0.05). Active motion deficit, passive ROM, muscle strength and pain explained 33.7% of the variation in the DASH function score.
Active motion deficit in the shoulder seems frequent in patients with RA. Together with passive ROM, muscle strength and pain, active motion deficit explained about one-third of the limitations in shoulder function in daily life.