Objective
Shoulder pain in hemiplegia is common and serious problem, but is not completely understood and somewhat controversial. This preliminary study attempt to evaluate the effect and usefulness of subacromial massage in the management of hemiplegic shoulder.

Method
In this ramdomized controlled trial, twenty nine hemiplegic patients with shoulder pain and limitation of motion were treated with either subacromial massage (treatment group) or massage on the supra-acromial area (control group). Outcome measurement of pain intensity, and range of motion were obtained by blinded assessment.

Results
After massage, in treatment group, mean active range of shoulder motion was increased by 14.3^o in abduction, 9.0^o in flexion, 10.3^o in external rotation and 13^o in internal rotation versus 3.9^o in abduction, 7.5^o in flexion, 4.3^o in external rotation and 6.4^o in internal rotation in control group. The mean pain intensity decreased from VAS 5.47 to 3.8 in treatment group and from VAS 4.57 to 3.71 in control group. This result was statistically significant, except in increment of active range of motion of flexion and external rotation of shoulder joint.

Conclusion
Subacromial massage was used in an effort to increase shoulder motion and to reduce shoulder pain in hemiplegic patients. There were increase in shoulder motion especially abduction, and decrease shoulder pain in study group compared with control group. Further investigation in the form of long term follow up studies is needed. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2002; 26: 385-390)