Clinical and diagnostic tests for shoulder disorders: a critical review

Abstract

The shoulder is one of the most complex joints in the human body and, as such, presents an evaluation and diagnostic challenge. The first steps in its evaluation are obtaining an accurate history and physical examination and evaluating conventional radiography. The use of other imaging modalities (eg, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography) should be based on the type of additional information needed. The goals of this study were to review the current limitations of evidence-based medicine with regard to shoulder examination and to assess the rationale for and against the use of diagnostic physical examination tests.

A long-term cohort study of the muscle apparatus of female volleyball players after the application of a compensatory programme

“…The lack of improvement of shoulder abduction may be explained by the disproportion between the extreme load on this region caused by constant hitting and serving actions, as well as the extreme load on m. trapezius when performing the overhead pass, as the upper extremities are constantly raised upward and the amount of compensation, as found in the studies of Vorálek et al (2007) and McFarland et al (2010). The results suggest that the presence of the physiotherapist in the training sessions seemed to have a slightly higher efficiency of the exercising programme compared than the second year, when the physiotherapist was not present at the training sessions.…”

“…the serve and the hit (Manshouri, Rahnama, & Khorzoghi, 2014). The most common injuries include traumas of fingers and especially their joints, the biggest load being on the dominant arm, and mainly on the shoulder joint (McFarland, Muvdi, Jia, Desai, & Petersen, 2010). Čučková and Süss (2014) found the following body parts overused: abdominal and lumbar muscle ligaments, the lower limbs and knee joints.…”

Physical Examination of the Shoulder

“…22,23 Although the sulcus test is widely accepted, it has not been validated and its accuracy has not been adequately studied. 24 The normal laxity of the shoulder varies widely among individuals. 25e27 Laxity of the affected shoulder should be compared with the contralateral side and will be symptomatic in patients with true pathology.…”

Shoulder to shoulder: stabilising instability, re-establishing rhythm, and rescuing the rotators!

“…McFarland et al 2 present a critical review of the various physical examination tests available, and discuss the rationale for and against the use of these tests ( see page 328 ). Moen et al 3 have revisited the metaanalysis of routine shoulder examination tests, carried out by Hegedus et al 4 in the BJSM ( See February 2008, page 80 ), to highlight those that have the greatest sensitivity and specificity ( see page 370 ).…”