Understanding control and mechanisms of shoulder instability in FSHD

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Understanding control and mechanisms of shoulder instability in patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD)

  • IRAS ID

    281571

  • Contact name

    Fraser Philp

  • Contact email

    f.philp@liverpool.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Liverpool

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 0 months, 0 days

  • Research summary

    The aim of this study is to identity factors responsible for shoulder instability in patient with facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD)

    FSHD is the third most common muscular dystrophy. FSHD is non life limiting and most often presents in the second decade of life. Overtime patients with FSHD gradually get smaller and weaker chest and arm muscles. As a result of this, they lose control of their arms and shoulder blades, making their shoulders less stable and sore. It is not clear why some patients lose stability of their shoulder or how this possibly causes pain. It is also difficult to identify what the best rehabilitation strategies for managing this are, as FSHD patients often get tired and have other sources of pain.

    In this research we will use the a 3D movement analysis laboratory to measure how patients with FSHD move their arms during certain tasks. We will also take pictures and measurements of their muscles using ultrasound. We will also do this to a control group of participants and compare the two groups. We hope this research will identify why some FSHD patients develop less stable shoulders, which may help inform rehabilitation and surgery.

    This is a single measurement study of FSHD patients (aged 18 and over) diagnosed with FSHD of different stages (n=7) and controls (n=7). This study is being funded by the The Orthopaedic Institute Limited based at The Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

  • REC name

    West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    21/WM/0275

  • Date of REC Opinion

    15 Dec 2021

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion