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Updated: May 7, 2026

Clinical Efficacy of Small Needle Knife Therapy on Stage I-II Frozen Shoulder
Published on: November 17, 2023
Clinical assessment of the shoulder
Thomas D Donnelly1, Sridhar Ashwin, Robert J Macfarlane
1Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, East Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Macclesfield District General Hospital, Victoria Road, Macclesfield, SK10 3BL, UK.
Abstract:
The shoulder joint is complex in structure and functionality. It is often difficult to assess clinically due to the great variety of associated pathology. This article presents an overview of the anatomy of the shoulder region and associated pathologies, whilst providing a summary of the clinical examination of the shoulder and associated 'special tests'. A full history is vital when assessing shoulder pathology. No particular test is fully sensitive or specific alone and accuracy varies between both clinicians and patients alike. Assessment of the shoulder should be conducted systematically with a range of tests combined.
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