How To Clinically Examine a Painful Shoulder

Description

This instructional video covers the examination of a painful shoulder, focusing on identifying pain sources through inspections and special tests. The presenter highlights the significance of understanding the pain's location, noting how specific regions can indicate different underlying issues, such as a paralabral cyst or AC joint problems.



The video explains the process for diagnosing shoulder pain, including recognizing symptoms of supraspinatus ruptures and assessing muscle atrophy which may reveal long-standing injuries. It emphasizes the importance of performing a thorough physical examination that includes measurement of range of movement (ROM) and muscle strength testing across various shoulder movements.



The presenter details step-by-step checks for both active and passive movements, using comparisons to normal movement ranges to identify restrictions. Key movements evaluated include shoulder elevation, external rotation at different arm positions, and internal rotation, with considerations for both active and passive mechanics during the assessment.



Throughout, the video teaches viewers how to distinguish between capsular restrictions and other issues by carefully observing both active and passive movement capabilities. For instance, instances of simultaneous limitation in elevation and external rotation serve as critical indicators of potential shoulder capsulitis. Overall, the content provides essential guidance for practitioners in evaluating shoulder pain comprehensively.

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