Journal of the Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society  2008;11(1):13-18

Physical Examinations of Rotator Cuff Tear.

Kyung Cheon KIM 1 ; Kwang Jin RHEE ; Hyun Dae SHIN ; Ki Yong BYUN

Affiliations

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Keywords

Shoulder; Physical examination

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

Successful treatment of any pathological condition of the shoulder requires an accurate diagnosis. Physical examination represents an integral part of the assessment of shoulder disorders. Pain, loss of strength, decreased range of motion, and instability are the most common symptoms caused by a great variety of different shoulder pathologies. Therefore, a sophisticated clinical approach to the patient with shoulder pathology is essential. A standardized evaluation including a variety of diagnostic tests and clinical assessments improves the diagnostic accuracy by specifically examining one component of the shoulder complex. In most cases a careful physical examination will establish or suggest a diagnosis and special investigative techniques such as imaging procedures can be applied more selectively for confirmation or further evaluation of the pathological entity.