To explore the effects of the neotype hand-arm sling on shoulder subluxation and transferring movement in hemiplegic stroke patients.

Thirty hemiplegic stroke survivors with shoulder subluxation and poor elbow flexor muscle tone (<2 on the Modified Ashworth Scale). were selected and randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 was trained in static upright standing, plus 10 min of sit-to-stand training and 20 min of walking training with no support for the hemiplegic, subluxed shoulder. Group 2 did the same training using a bag-type shoulder sling, and group 3 used the neotype hand-arm sling. Index finger palpation was used to evaluate the degree of shoulder subluxation, and the Five Times Sit-to-Stand (FTSST) and Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) times for the three groups were compared.

In the static standing training, both the bag-type sling and the neotype hand-arm sling could effectively reduce shoulder subluxation. However, after 10 min of sit-to-stand training the neotype hand-arm sling was found to be significantly superior to the bag-type shoulder sling in improving shoulder subluxation, with the latter having no effect on shoulder subluxation. In the 20 min of walking training, the neotype hand-arm sling provided significantly more effective support than the bag-type shoulder sling, although both could support the shoulders. Those using the neotype sling had shorter FTSST times, though there were no significant differences in the average TUG times.

The neotype slings can more effectively counter shoulder subluxation in upright stance, especially during sit-to-stand maneuvers and walking. It might have positive effects on transferring ability.

Stroke; Shoulder subluxation; Slings