Epidemiology of Shoulder Pain
Original Editor - Your name will be added here if you created the original content for this page.
Top Contributors - Naomi O'Reilly, Kim Jackson, Simisola Ajeyalemi, Candace Goh, Jess Bell, Stacy Schiurring, Rachael Lowe, Tony Lowe and Fasuba Ayobami
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Shoulder pain is a common musculoskeletal condition that is is recognised as a disabling problem and can be associated with substantial economic burden. The pain and disability associated with shoulder pain can have a large impact on individuals and their families, communities, and healthcare systems affecting daily functioning, and ability to work. It is the third most common musculoskeletal complaint presenting to physiotherapy.
There is substantial variances in the estimated prevalence of shoulder pain, ranging anywhere from 1% up to 51% [1]. This can in part be as a result of the complex structure of the shoulder and close functional biomechanical association with adjacent areas, including the spine. Some further causes of variability in reporting relate to that fact that the shoulder may be a primary or secondary source of pain, so many authors and clinicians tend to summarise such a presentation simply as shoulder pain syndrome.[1] [2]
The definition of shoulder pain is not so clear cut and in epidemiological studies defining shoulder pain symptoms presents a number of difficulties secondary to the complex interrelations between the shoulder and adjacent areas and the frequent occurrence of referred pain which make clinical case definition problematic. The aetiology of shoulder pain is diverse and includes pathology originating locally from the shoulder such as the glenohumeral joint, acromioclavicular joint, sternoclavicaulr joint, rotator cuff, and other soft tissues within the shoulder complex but can also be referred from other structures, such as the neck, or other visceral organs. [1][2][3] The extent of tissue damage observed on clinical imaging does not correlate with shoulder pain intensity, thus the relevance of diagnosing structural pathology in people with shoulder pain has been challenged by many in research and clinical practice.[4][5][6] Similarily it has been shown that in the general population anywhere from 20 - 40% of individuals have asymptomatic rotator cuff tears, which suggests that structural pathology may not fully explain the perception of shoulder pain and highlights the potential for diagnostic labels to mislead treatment.In practice, therefore, ‘shoulder pain’ has been applied as an all encompassing term in many of the epidemiological studies available.[7][8][9]
Here we will review some findings from the literature with regards to the prevalence of shoulder pain in the general population, age distribution, occupational and psychosocial risk factors associated with the onset of shoulder-related pain symptoms. [3]
Prevalence[edit | edit source]
Risk Factors[edit | edit source]
Relevance to Physiotherapy[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Pope DP, Croft PR, Pritchard CM, Silman AJ. Prevalence of Shoulder Pain in the Community: The Influence of Case Definition. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 1997 May 1;56(5):308-12.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Murphy RJ, Carr AJ. Shoulder Pain. BMJ clinical evidence. 2010;2010.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Pribicevic M. The Epidemiology of Shoulder Pain: A Narrative Review of the Literature. InPain in Perspective 2012. InTech.
- ↑ Miniaci A, Mascia AT, Salonen DC, Becker EJ. Magnetic resonance imaging of the shoulder in asymptomatic professional baseball pitchers. American Journal of Sports Medicine 2002; 30(1): 66-73.
- ↑ Barrett E. Examining the Role of Thoracic Kyphosis in Shoulder Pain [Phd Thesis]. Limerick: University of Limerick. 2016.
- ↑ Connor PM, Banks DM, Tyson AB, Coumas JS, D’Alessandro DF. Magnetic resonance imaging of the asymptomatic shoulder of overhead athletes: a 5-year follow-up study. American Journal of Sports Medicine 2003; 31(5): 724-727.
- ↑ Templehof S, Rupp S, Seil R. Age-related prevalence of rotator cuff tears in asymptomatic shoulders. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery 1999; 8: 296-299.
- ↑ Worland R, Lee D, Orozco C, Sozarex F, Keenan J. Correlation of age, acromial morphology, and rotator cuff tear pathology diagnosed by ultrasound in asymptomatic patients. Journal of the Southern Orthopaedic Association 2003; 12(1): 23-26.
- ↑ Yamamoto A, Takagishi K, Osawa T, Yanagawa T, Nakajima D, Shitara H, Kobayashi T. Prevalence and risk factors of a rotator cuff tear in the general population. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery 2010; 19(1): 116-120.
