Shoulder Examination

Question 1

What are inflammatory cardinal signs?

Answer 1

Pain 
Heat
Erythema
Swelling 
Loss of function

Question 2

Look:

What do you look for using WADES?

What else do you look for?

Answer 2

Wasting 
Asymmetry 
Deformity 
Erythema 
Scars/swelling

Size and position of the scapula
Skin changes

Question 3

Feel - Findings:

What 3 muscles does the bulk need to be felt for?

What do you feel for? - 2

Answer 3

Deltoids
Supraspinatus
Infraspinatus

Tenderness
Temperature

Question 4

Move - Findings:

When they abduct/adduct, you look from behind. Why?

What will reduce the ability to internally/externally rotate?

What do you feel for when doing movements passively?

Answer 4

To check if normal scapula rise of 90 degrees

If not normal, then suggest a glenohumeral joint problem

Frozen shoulder

Crepitus

Question 5

Special tests - Movements against resistance:

What 3 movements are done against resistance?
Subacromial pain syndrome:
- What tendon if inflamed if there is a pain on abduction?
- What tendon if inflamed if there is a pain on I rotation?
- What tendon if inflamed if there is a pain on E rotation?

Answer 5

Abduction
Internal rotation
External rotation

Supraspinatus tendinitis

Subscapularis tendinitis

Infraspinatus tendinitis

Question 6

Special tests:

Winged scapula - what nerve is damaged leading to this?

Answer 6

Long thoracic nerve

The long thoracic nerve is the motor nerve to the serratus anterior muscle, which functions to pull the scapula forward around the thorax, allowing for anteversion of the arm, and to lift the ribs, assisting in respiration.

Question 7

Function:

There are 3 movements you ask them to do. What are they?

Answer 7

Hands on the back of the head

Hands touch each shoulder

Hands behind their back, palms out, as much as possible