Myofascial Dysfunction in Post Stroke Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain is extremely common after stroke and occurs in 30-70% of patients. The pain may begin as early as one week after stroke, although peak onset and severity occurs around four months, and persists into the chronic stage. Chronic post stroke shoulder pain (PSSP) interferes with motor recovery, decreases quality of life, and contributes to depression. PSSP is thought to be caused mainly by damage to the myofascial tissues around the shoulder joint. Interestingly, an MRI study in patients with PSSP showed that the degree of structural damage to the muscles did not correlate with the degree of pain. Thus, the pathophysiology of myofascial dysfunction and pain in PSSP has not been elucidated leading to missed opportunities for early diagnosis and variable success with pain management. The accumulation of hyaluronic acid (HA) in muscle and its fascia can cause myofascial dysfunction. HA is a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) consisting of long-chain polymers of disaccharide units of glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine and is a chief constituent of the extracellular matrix of muscle. In physiologic quantities, HA functions as a lubricant and a viscoelastic shock absorber, enabling force transmission during contraction and stretch. Reduced joint mobility and spasticity result in focal accumulation and alteration of HA in muscle. This can lead to the development of stiff areas and taut bands, dysfunctional gliding of deep fascia and muscle layers, reduced range of motion (ROM), and pain. However, the association of muscle HA accumulation with PSSP has not been established. The investigators have quantified the concentration of HA in muscle using T1rho (T1ρ) MRI and found that T1ρ relaxation time is increased in post stroke shoulder pain and stiffness. Furthermore, dynamic US imaging using shear strain mapping can quantify dysfunctional gliding of muscle that may generate pain during ROM. Myofascial dysfunction can result in non-painful reduction in ROM (latent PSSP), which may become painful due to episodic overuse injury producing greater shear dysfunction (active PSSP). Hence, shear strain mapping may differentiate between latent versus active PSSP. Thus, quantitative Motor Recovery (MR) and US imaging may serve as useful biomarkers to elucidate the pathophysiology of myofascial dysfunction.

Aim 1: Quantify the extent of HA accumulation in shoulder muscles using T1rho MRI before and after treatment with hyaluronidase injections versus placebo in patients with PSSP. Hypothesis: The primary objective will be to demonstrate that dysfunctional shoulder girdle muscles on the paretic side in patients with PSSP will show decreased T1ρ relaxation times in the infraspinatus muscle after treatment with hyaluronidase injections compared with placebo 5-7 weeks post-injection. Aim 2. Determine maximum sheer strain in shoulder muscles using US shear strain mapping before and after treatment with hyaluronidase injections versus placebo in patients with PSSP. Research Hypothesis: Shear strain on the paretic side in patients with PSSP measured using ultrasound shear mobility between the pectoralis major and minor muscles will decrease after treatment with hyaluronidase injections compared with placebo 5-7 weeks post-injection. Aim 3. Assess the impact of hyaluronidase injections compared with placebo on shoulder pain, pain free range of motion, upper limb motor impairment, function and quality of life in patients with PSSP. Hypothesis: Hyaluronidase injections compared with placebo in patients with PSSP will lead to (1) reduced pain as assessed using the pain questionnaires and lower pain-pressure thresholds with quantitative sensory testing using an algometer; (2) increased pain free range of motion in most affected shoulder joints; (3) reduced upper limb motor impairment measured using the Fugl-Meyer Scale; (4) increased function measured using the Wolf Motor Function Test; and (5) improved quality of life measured using the Stroke Specific Quality of Life scale.