Shoulder pain, stiffness and limited shoulder range of motion are unfortunately frequent complications in hemiplegia. Pain and limited shoulder range of motion in hemiplegia interfere with self-care activities, impede balance, and create difficulty with transfers and ambulation.

The clinical similarity between the frozen shoulder and the painful, contracted shoulder of the hemiplegic patient was found through several studies.

To analyze therapeutic effect between frozen shoulder in hemiplegia and non-hemiplegia, the authors applied traditional physical therapy and followed up for 1 months. The results were summarized as follows.

1) Among the 68 cases, the hemiplegic patients were 19 cases and the non-hemiplegic patients were 49 cases.

2) Among the 68 cases, males were 27 cases and females were 41 cases and the highest age incidence was fifth to sixth decades.

3) duration of symptom was 2 to 4 month in 58% of hemiplegia and 59% of non-hemiplegia.

4) The left side was involved in 30 cases and the right side in 27 cases and both sides in 11 cases.

5) The causative factors of frozen shoulder in 19 hemiplegic patients were; spasticity and subluxation respectively in 13 cases, shoulder-hand syndrome in 7 cases, myofascial syndrome in 2 cases.

6) shoulder range of motion in hemiplegia at first visit was 92.3±24.4° in forward flexion, 76.2±24.7° in abduction, 1.3±15.2° in external rotation and 169.7±52.7° in total.

Shoulder range of motion in non-hemiplegia at first visit was 115.5±32.9° in forward flexion, 89.3±33.8° in abduction, 19.0±22.3° in external rotation, and 222.0±70.0° in total.

7) In hemiplegia shoulder range of motion 1 month after physical therapy was 121.0±28.1° in forward flexion, 107.0±26.4° in abduction, 11.3±15.2°in external rotation, and 239.2±57.5^o in total; increase in range of motion being 28.8±24.1^o, 30.8±22.8^o, 10.0±10.5^o, and 69.5±53.0^o respectively. In non-hemiplegia shoulder range of motion 1 month after physical therapy was 142.5±29.2^o in forward flexion, 124.6±33.0^o in abduction, 35.3±21.8^o in external rotation, and 302.4±74.9^o in total; increase in range of motion being 26.9±13.7^o, 35.3±18.4^o, 18.2±17.4^o, and 80.3±36.3^o respectively.

8) The range of shoulder external rotation in hemiplegic patients revealed significant resistance to physical therapy.