SHOULDER PAIN, ULTRASOUND CHANGES, AND FUNCTIONAL PERFORMANCE IN OBESE PATIENTS

To evaluate the prevalence of shoulder pain, level of functional performance, and morphological involvement of the rotator cuff on ultrasound in morbidly obese patients. The study included 54 morbidly obese patients receiving follow-up care in a bariatric surgery outpatient clinic, which were compared with a control group consisting of 49 participants. Presence of shoulder pain, shoulder functional performance, ultrasound of the rotator cuff and blood tests were the parameters evaluated. The obese group showed a greater incidence of shoulder pain (p < 0.0001; OR: 17.5), lower functional performance according to UCLA (p < 0.0001; OR: 7.5) and DASH scales (p < 0.0001) and a greater incidence of pathological ultrasound and c-reactive protein test changes (p < 0.0001). These findings suggest that being overweight is an important exacerbating factor for shoulder pain, lower shoulder functional performance and pathological changes of the rotator cuff and c-reactive protein test.