title: Physical examination of the shoulder in the primary care setting.
abstract: Shoulder problems are extremely common reasons for visiting a primary care physician. To make a correct diagnosis, an appropriate physical examination must be performed. This article describes a systematic approach to the physical examination, correlating the various maneuvers and tests with the anatomy and pathology of the shoulder. The steps in this examination are: inspection, observation, palpation, manual muscle testing, and special testing. With this type of systematic approach, the physician is more likely to arrive at an accurate diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Sports Medicine Fellowship Program, Department of Family Medicine, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, 1015 Walnut Street, Suite 401, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. bjmcshane@pol.net
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McShane
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Graveley
authors.forename: Bruce D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Hopper
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009129:Muscle Tonus; D010173:Palpation; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012782:Shoulder / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*