The Effects of Stability Exercises on Shoulder Pain and Function of Middle-aged Women

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of shoulder stability exercise on shoulder pain and function of middle-aged women. [Subjects] The subjects were 22 middle-aged women, who were randomly divided into two groups: a shoulder stability exercise group of 11 subjects, and a control group of 11 subjects. [Methods] All subjects were evaluated for pain, pressure pain threshold, rounded shoulder posture, and upper extremity stability. A stability exercise for the shoulder joint was designed in order to correct the abnormal location of the scapula, and encourage symmetric rolling, and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation symmetrically reciprocal. The measured parameters were evaluated before and after four weeks of exercise. In the exercise group, the exercise training consisted of 40-minute sessions, three sessions a week, for four weeks. [Results] Following intervention, the shoulder stability exercise group showed significant decreases in pain, the pressure pain threshold, and rounded shoulder posture, and upper extremity stability was significantly improved. [Conclusion] The results of this study suggest the feasibility and suitability of this shoulder stability exercise for middle-aged women.