Shoulder Pain Diagnosis Chart

Understanding shoulder pain

The shoulder is a complex and multifunctional joint essential for various upper-body movements. Its anatomy allows for a wide range of motion, making it vulnerable to different types of injuries and conditions that can cause pain.

The shoulder joint, also known as the glenohumeral joint, is a ball-and-socket joint formed by the upper arm bone (humerus) and the shoulder blade (scapula). This remarkably mobile joint allows for a wide range of shoulder movements but can also make it susceptible to injuries and conditions affecting the surrounding muscles, tendons, and bones (Chang & Varacallo, 2019).

Shoulder pain can arise from various causes, and a proper diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment. Effective diagnosis of shoulder pain and shoulder dislocations is vital for healthcare providers to relieve pain and determine the appropriate treatment plan for their patients.

Common causes of shoulder pain

Understanding the common causes of shoulder problems is essential for better planning interventions to treat shoulder pain.

Rotator cuff tears and tendinitis

The rotator cuff is a group of four tendons that attach the shoulder muscles to the upper arm bone (humerus). Rotator cuff injuries can result from overuse, aging, or acute trauma, causing severe pain, weakness, and limited range of motion (Bigoni et al., 2019). Practitioners can use Shoulder Pain Diagnosis Charts like the Rotator Cuff Pain Location Diagram to diagnose shoulder pain in this area.

Shoulder impingement syndrome

Shoulder impingement syndrome occurs when the rotator cuff tendons become trapped and compressed against the shoulder blade, leading to inflammation and shoulder blade pain.

Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)

Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is a condition characterized by stiffness, pain, and limited shoulder joint mobility due to the joint capsule's thickening and tightening.

Shoulder bursitis

Bursitis is an inflammation of the fluid-filled sac (bursa) that cushions the shoulder joint, often caused by repetitive motions or injury.

Shoulder instability and dislocation

Shoulder instability or dislocation occurs when the upper arm bone (humerus) becomes wholly or partially displaced from the shoulder socket, often due to trauma or repetitive overhead activities.

Rotator cuff tendonitis

Rotator cuff tendinitis is a tendon inflammation that connects the rotator cuff muscles to the upper arm bone, typically caused by overuse or injury (Bigoni et al., 2019).

Shoulder separation or acromioclavicular (AC) joint injury

A shoulder separation or acromioclavicular (AC) joint injury involves the separation of the collarbone (clavicle) from the shoulder blade (scapula), commonly resulting from a fall or direct impact on the shoulder.

Clavicle fracture

The clavicle, or collarbone, is the most frequently broken bone. A clavicle injury can cause pain, swelling, and limited shoulder movement, often due to a motor vehicle accident or sports-related trauma.

Soft tissue injuries

Shoulder pain can also arise from injuries to the soft tissues surrounding the shoulder joint, such as the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. These injuries can result from trauma, overuse, or underlying conditions like rotator cuff tears or shoulder impingement syndrome.

Shoulder blade fractures

Fractures of the shoulder blade (scapula) are relatively uncommon but can occur due to high-energy trauma, such as motor vehicle accidents or falls from significant heights. These fractures in the shoulder blades can cause severe pain, swelling, and limited shoulder motion.

Muscle spasms and strains

Overuse, sudden movements, or underlying conditions like muscle weakness or imbalances can cause muscle spasms and muscle strains in the shoulder region. These issues can lead to pain, stiffness, and reduced shoulder mobility.

Shoulder arthritis

Arthritis in the shoulder joint can be a source of chronic pain and stiffness. Different types of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or post-traumatic arthritis, can affect the shoulder joints and surrounding structures.

Referred pain

In some cases, shoulder pain may be referred from other areas of the human body, such as the neck (cervical spine), which causes nerve pain, chest (heart or lungs), or upper back (thoracic spine). This phenomenon, called referred pain, can make it challenging to identify the underlying cause of shoulder discomfort.

The most vulnerable parts of the shoulder to pain and injury are the four rotator cuff tendons, which are prone to conditions like rotator cuff injuries, tears, bursitis, and tendinitis. These structures play a crucial role in shoulder stability and movement, making them susceptible to overuse, trauma, and degeneration, leading to various painful conditions that can impact the function of the shoulder joint. It is then essential for patients to protect these shoulder bones and joints to prevent shoulder pain and shoulder injury.

Red flags of shoulder pain

When it comes to shoulder pain, here are some red flags that you shouldn't ignore.

• Severe pain
• Shoulder and arm weakness
• Chest pain
• Inability to raise the arm
• Shoulder swelling
• Red skin
• Painful shoulder joint
• Fever

What is a Shoulder Pain Diagnosis Chart?

A Shoulder Pain Diagnosis Chart is a comprehensive tool that healthcare practitioners use to systematically evaluate and identify the underlying condition causing discomfort in the shoulder region. It serves as a guide, providing an organized approach to diagnosing various shoulder conditions based on the patient's symptoms, physical examination findings, and relevant diagnostic tests.

For instance, a patient's shoulder may be in pain due to a frozen or dislocated shoulder. Limited shoulder movements or a frozen shoulder means stiffness in the shoulder area, which can cause reduced mobility. On the other hand, a shoulder dislocation means the upper arm bone comes out of the shoulder socket, which can cause immediate and immense pain. Intense pain on the shoulder blade can indicate muscle strain, posture problems, or arthritis. Meanwhile, pain in the rotator cuff muscles may mean inflammation in these areas.

Our is a pre-formatted tool designed to help you and your patients map out areas causing pain. This tool is flexible enough for left, right, or bilateral shoulder pain and differentiates between four types of significant pain. This helps identify areas of concern to plan for pain relief and address their shoulder condition.

How does this Shoulder Pain Diagnosis Chart work?

We have aimed to keep this chart simple and widely applicable for patients experiencing shoulder pain. To make the most out of this tool, you can follow these steps:

Step 1: Add patient details

The interactive PDF Shoulder Pain Diagnosis Chart includes several pre-formatted fields for your patient's details, including their name, identifier, and date of birth. 

Step 2: Add in color/marker coding (optional)

Depending on the kind of pain your patient is experiencing, you may wish to utilize the blank key provided. This key offers four empty boxes for color coding or differentiating between different pain types. Please look at our example of the Shoulder Pain Diagnosis Chart, which uses this key with colors or other markers.

Step 3: Annotate diagram(s)

Once you have determined your colors or markers to annotate different types of pain, you can start mapping your patient's pain on the diagram. Your patient can also complete this part of the chart if they feel confident, which may provide a more accurate representation of their pain. 

Step 4: Fill in practitioner details

At the bottom of the Shoulder Pain Diagnosis Chart is space to add your details, designation, and signature. 

Step 5: Store securely

The last step is securely storing the resource as part of your patient's clinical record. To improve accessibility and utilize digital encryption, we recommend doing this digitally rather than as a paper copy. You can do this seamlessly from within the Carepatron app. Feel free to skip to the end of this article to find out how!

Shoulder Pain Diagnosis Chart example (sample)

If you're more of a visual learner or prefer to see a finished tool example before you start using it yourself, look no further than our example Shoulder Pain Diagnosis Chart. This sample chart demonstrates the capability of this resource to map different types of pain and the interactive PDF functionality when used as a digital resource. Look at the example below, or you can download the example chart or a blank version using the free PDF links provided. 

Download this Shoulder Pain Diagnosis Chart example (sample) here:

Why use this Shoulder Pain Diagnosis Chart in Carepatron?

Using a Shoulder Pain Diagnosis Chart within physical therapy software like Carepatron can significantly enhance the patient care experience and streamline therapist workflow.

Physical therapists can create, store, and access patients' assessments, intake forms, and progress notes within a single platform. Carepatron's secure practice management software ensures that your patient's confidential information is safe and that you can access these documents whenever needed with Carepatron's mobile or desktop platforms.

Best of all, you can start using Carepatron's starter plan for free. Try it out today and discover why 10,000+ passionate healthcare practitioners have chosen Carepatron.

Sign up now!

References

Bigoni, M., Gorla, M., Guerrasio, S., Brignoli, A., Cossio, A., Grillo, P., & Marinoni, E.C. (2009). Shoulder evaluation with isokinetic strength testing after arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 18 2, 178-83. https://doi.org./10.1016/j.jse.2008.09.002

Chang, L. R., & Varacallo, M. (2019, February 15). Anatomy, shoulder and upper limb, glenohumeral joint. National Library of Medicine; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537018/