Geriatric shoulder pain: common causes and their management

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Orthopedics
• Primary Care

Background:

• Shoulder pain is a frequent complaint in elderly patients presenting to primary care.
• Accurate diagnosis necessitates knowledge of relevant anatomy and common geriatric shoulder pathologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide primary care physicians with essential information for evaluating shoulder pain in geriatric patients.
• To review common intrinsic and extrinsic causes of shoulder pain in the elderly.
• To outline management strategies for these conditions.

Main Methods:

• Review of pertinent anatomical structures of the shoulder.
• Discussion of a systematic physical examination approach for geriatric shoulder pain.
• Compilation of common shoulder disorders prevalent in the geriatric population.

Main Results:

• Identified key anatomical considerations for shoulder pain in older adults.
• Outlined a structured physical examination to differentiate causes of shoulder pain.
• Detailed common intrinsic (e.g., rotator cuff tears, arthritis) and extrinsic (e.g., cervical radiculopathy) etiologies.

Conclusions:

• Effective management of geriatric shoulder pain relies on a comprehensive understanding of anatomy and pathology.
• A thorough evaluation, including physical examination, is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
• This article serves as a guide for primary care physicians managing shoulder pain in the elderly.