The painful shoulder: Part I. Clinical evaluation

Family physicians need to understand diagnostic and treatment strategies fo r common causes of shoulder pain. We review key elements of the history and physical examination and describe maneuvers that can be used to reach an a ppropriate diagnosis. Examination of the shoulder should include inspection , palpation, evaluation of range of motion and provocative testing. In addi tion, a thorough sensorimotor examination of the upper extremity should be performed, and the neck and elbow should be evaluated.