Heterogeneity among patients with subacromial pain – variabilities within clinical presentation and its impact on daily life

Subacromial pain is one of the most common disorders among patients with shoulder pain attending primary care [1]. These patients report a large negative impact on physical function, mental health and health-related quality of life [2]. There are algorithms and flow charts [3 –5] published to guide the clinicians in their clinical examination of patients with a painful shoulder, still the structural cause of symptoms may be difficult to identify. The clinical presentation of subacromial pain is described as characterized by reduced strength in abduction [6], external [ 6,7], and internal rotation [7] as well as limited range of motion [6] in abduction, and a non-optimal activation pattern of the muscles in the shoulder girdle, a scapular dyskinesia [8,9].
Source: Physiotherapy - Category: Physiotherapy Authors: Source Type: research