Top Tests for an Accurate Rotator Cuff Diagnosis
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Shoulder pain is one of the most common yet challenging clinical presentations. Evidence-based chiropractors use orthopedic assessments to answer four differentiating questions that will highlight the most effective treatment.
Is the pain arising from the shoulder vs. neck?
Is the rotator cuff inflamed vs. degenerated?
Does the tendon have a partial-thickness or full-thickness tear vs. rupture?
Why did this pathology happen?
Missing any of these crucial answers will likely yield an unsatisfied patient with a failed outcome.
Fortunately, some new research in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery has highlighted the most accurate tests for diagnosing rotator cuff pathology. (1) Watch the ChiroUp docs show you how to incorporate these most useful tests into a quick and precise best-practice shoulder evaluation that answers these four essential questions.
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Subscriber Resource 1: Empower Your Patients (in Less than 20 seconds)
An educated patient is a compliant patient. You can quickly prescribe condition reports that answer your patient’s top questions about any diagnosis. Your lay reports empower patients to become active participants in their recovery. These reports:
Improve patient understanding and compliance
Improve outcomes by delivering the critical ADL advice and exercises for a given condition and empowering patients to become active participants in their recovery
Trigger outcome assessment surveys; allowing you to evaluate your performance and collect Google reviews
Drive MD initial and release reports that change attitudes… and referral patterns!
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Subscriber Resource 2: Review Tutorial Videos
ChiroUp.com subscribers can visit the Clinical Skills tab to review video tutorials for more than 300 clinical assessments, including each of the tests mentioned in the accompanying blog video.
Empty can test
Drop arm test
Hawkins-Kennedy test
External rotation lag sign
Arm squeeze test
Scapular assistance test
Hornblower’s Sign/ Patte test
Neer’s test
Modified scapular retraction test
Dynamic isokinetic manipulation examination (DIME)
Empty can test
Drop arm test
Hawkins-Kennedy test
External rotation lag sign
Arm squeeze test
Scapular assistance test
Hornblower’s Sign/ Patte test
Neer’s test
Modified scapular retraction test
Dynamic isokinetic manipulation examination (DIME)
Subscriber Resource 3: Access Best-Practice Protocols
Subscribers can review the most up-to-date best-practice protocols for more than 100 protocols, including several that are relevant to today’s blog:
Scapular Dyskinesis
Cervical Segmental Joint Restriction
Shoulder Anterior Impingement Syndrome
Cervical Disc Lesion
Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy
One click takes you to the video tutorials of all pertinent assessments, treatments, ADL’s, and exercises!
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How many times were you treated for this episode?
What is your overall level of satisfaction?
How likely are you to recommend us to a friend?
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Yazigi Junior JA, Anauate Nicolao F, Matsunaga FT, Archetti Netto N, Belloti JC, Sugawara Tamaoki MJ. Supraspinatus tears - predictability of MRI findings based on clinical examination. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2021 Mar 3:S1058-2746(21)00154-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2021.02.013. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33675978. Link
