172. Shoulder pain assessment & clinical reasoning. Physio Edge Shoulder Success podcast with Jo Gibson Podcast By cover art

172. Shoulder pain assessment & clinical reasoning. Physio Edge Shoulder Success podcast with Jo Gibson

172. Shoulder pain assessment & clinical reasoning. Physio Edge Shoulder Success podcast with Jo Gibson

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Your patient presents with shoulder pain, and straight away you need to identify: Is it rotator cuff related shoulder pain, frozen shoulder, instability, or something else entirely? Is it rotator cuff related shoulder pain, frozen shoulder, instability, or something else entirely?Is the pain actually coming from the shoulder?Could it be the cervical spine?Is there a tear that needs urgent referral?Should you order imaging? Refer to a surgeon? Or confidently continue with rehab? In this podcast, Jo Gibson (Upper Limb Rehabilitation Specialist Physio) guides you through a simple, evidence-informed clinical reasoning framework to help you confidently assess and treat patients with shoulder pain. Drawing on decades of clinical experience and the latest research, Jo breaks down four essential questions you need to ask in every shoulder assessment—helping you identify red flags, tailor your treatment plan, and avoid common diagnostic pitfalls. In this episode, you’ll discover: How to distinguish shoulder pain from cervical spine referralKey subjective clues that guide your diagnosis and treatment decisionsWhether it’s “torn”—and how to know if a surgical referral is appropriateClinical signs that help differentiate frozen shoulder from other causes of stiffnessWhy pain irritability matters—and how it impacts your rehab approachWhen to use (and when to avoid) imagingHow to identify instability and assess the likelihood of recurrenceWhat assessment tests to perform in your objective examinationThe real value—and limitations—of special tests like the Hawkins-Kennedy, drop arm, Hornblower’s, and more.How to modify testing to better isolate rotator cuff contributionsWhy symptom modification tests are useful—and what they tell youHow to help your patient overcome fear, regain confidence, and move againWhat research says about exercise prescription, and how many exercises you should give patients Listen in to strengthen your clinical reasoning and give your shoulder assessments a clear structure that helps you feel more confident—and gets better outcomes for your patients. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro03:12 - Subjective clues that guide diagnosis04:33 - What to call shoulder pain? RCRSP or SAP?06:04 - 4 key questions to ask06:29 - Cervical spine driven shoulder pain10:03 - Is it torn and does it matter?11:29 - Traumatic dislocations12:37 - Special tests in the "Is it torn" group15:56 - Is it stiff?17:36 - Is it irritable?20:38 - Can I change it?23:05 - Summary Click on an image below to access these free resources from Jo Gibson and Clinical Edge The handout for this podcast consists of a transcript associated with this podcast. Shoulder: Steps to Success online course with Jo Gibson Improve your assessment and treatment of shoulder pain with the Shoulder: Steps to Success online course with Jo Gibson, now available for enrolment at clinicaledge.co/shouldersuccess Free trial Clinical Edge membership Use a fresh approach to your musculoskeletal and sports injury treatment with a free trial Clinical Edge membership at clinicaledge.co/freetrial Links associated with this episode: Free video series - How to be a shoulder detective: Solving acute shoulder pain with Jo GibsonGet your access to the free video series “Frozen shoulder assessment & treatment” with Jo GibsonImprove your shoulder assessment & treatment with the Shoulder: Steps to Success online course with Jo GibsonImprove your confidence and clinical reasoning with a free trial Clinical Edge membershipJoin Jo Gibson live on Facebook & ask your shoulder related questions every Monday Download and subscribe to the podcast on iTunesDownload the podcast now using the best podcast app currently in existence - OvercastListen to the podcast on SpotifyJo Gibson on TwitterLet David know what you liked about this podcast on Twitter Review the podcast on iTunesInfographics by Clinical Edge
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