Evaluation and management of shoulder pain in primary care clinics

Shoulder pain is a frequent clinical problem facing primary care physicians. Despite its common occurrence, many clinicians are unfamiliar with the diagnosis and treatment of many common shoulder ailments. Because therapy for most shoulder disorders can be made at the initial consultation, a good history and physical remain paramount. The purpose of this paper is to review the basic approach to diagnosis and management of shoulder pain. It will summarize a pragmatic approach to the initial history, with particular attention to differentiating extrinsic and intrinsic etiologies. Physical exam techniques for evaluating shoulder pain will be reviewed, including provocation testing for specific disorders. Specific disorders covered include supraspinatus tendonitis, subdeltoid bursitis, frozen shoulder, biceps tendonitis, and acromioclavicular (AC) joint arthritis.