Critical Reviews™ in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine

ISSN for PRINT: 0896-2960

For Online Access

Best Paper Award Selection - Editorial Board Site

1999, Volume11

Issue 3&4

208 pages

Issue price - $326.00

Eva Solem Bertoft
Karolinska Institutet, Department of Physical Therapy, S-141 57 Huddinge, Sweden

Pain in the shoulder is a common complaint in persons working in overhead repetitive working positions and in overhead athletes such as throwers and swimmers, sometimes combined with instablitity of the shoulder. The main pathophysiology is related to the rotator cuff, especially the supraspinatus muscle. Pain in the shoulder is also caused by traumatic injuries such as fractures and dislocations. Frozen shoulder and shoulder pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis and hemiparesis are frequently occurring. The aim of the current study was to create a critical review of the important literature on defined painful shoulder disorders from a physiotherapeutic view, including a synthesis of the findings in relation to the current state of the art. The present basis of knowledge in pathophysiology and clincal characteristics of the patients, relevant experimental studies, methods, and clinical trials of physiotherapy intervention are presented. A review of evaluation methods of impairment and disability of the shoulder is included in the article. Future randomized studies with long-term follow-up of effects of physiotherapy should be encouraged in order to expand the level of knowledge and to contribute to an evidence-based clinical approach for patients suffering from painful shoulder disorders.

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