[Management of the worker affected by shoulder pathology]

Shoulder disorders due to overexertion include joint and soft tissues chronic conditions and are an important cause of disability. Shoulder pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders and has been associated to manual handling of heavy loads, high repetition jobs, exposure to hand-arm vibration and to overhead activities. Diagnosis of shoulder disorders is primarily based on clinical examination; selected cases should be referred to an orthopedic specialist and to imaging. Return to normal activities should be encouraged.