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.