Zafer CEYHAN, Zeliha CEYHAN, Özlem TERZİ
Journal of Experimental and Clinical Medicine - 2026;43(1):31-36
Stroke and spinal cord injury are major causes of long-term disability and dependence. Caregiving tasks, such as lifting and transferring patients, impose a physical burden, and often result in shoulder pain and reduced shoulder function. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between caregiver burden and shoulder function among caregivers of patients with stroke and spinal cord injury.A total of 124 caregivers who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and shoulder examinations performed by a physiatrist. Sociodemographic characteristics and caregiving-related factors were assessed using a structured questionnaire, followed by the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale (ZCBS), Simple Shoulder Test (SST), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Patient dependency was evaluated using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and shoulder range of motion (ROM) was measured with a goniometer. The median age of participants was 56 years (range: 18-83), and 73.4% were female. The median duration of caregiving was 9 months (range: 0.5-300). Lifting and transferring patients were reported as the most challenging caregiving task (41.9%), and 75.8% of caregivers reported shoulder pain. Female caregivers had significantly lower SST scores and higher ZCBS and VAS scores compared with male caregivers (p<0.001; p=0.006; p=0.005, respectively). Similarly, caregivers with shoulder pain demonstrated significantly higher ZCBS and VAS scores (p<0.001 for all comparisons). ROM limitation was observed in 75.8% of caregivers, and 95.7% of these reported shoulder pain (p<0.001). As caregiver burden increases, shoulder function declines. The implementation of structured education programs, safe patient transfer techniques, and therapeutic exercise interventions may help prevent shoulder injuries and reduce caregiver burden.
