COMMON CAUSES OF SHOULDER PAIN IN PATIENTS PRESENTING TO PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION OUTPATIENTS FOR ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION

Abstract

Background: Shoulder pain is a chief musculoskeletal complaint seen in PM&R outpatient clinics and is a source of great concern. This causes a negative impact on the patient’s daily life and quality of life; therefore, proper identification and treatment are crucial. Aim: The purpose of this work is to determine the most frequent causes of shoulder pain in patients attending the PM&R outpatient clinic and to provide a more accurate diagnostic approach and effective therapeutic management. Methods: A quantitative comparative cross-sectional study was conducted with a target population of 320 patients; estimating the sample size using the WHO sample size calculator at 95% confidence interval, 2.3% absolute sample precision, and with an estimated prevalence of shoulder osteoarthritis to be 4.6%. The data was obtained by conducting patient interviews, conducting physical examinations, and conducting imaging studies (X-rays, MRI, ultrasound). Data analysis included descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, chi-square tests of association, and multivariate logistic regression with odds ratios as an outcome. The results were presented in colored tables, bar graphs, pie charts, and scatter plots. Results: The main reasons for shoulder pain are as follows: rotator cuff tendinitis 30%, adhesive capsulitis 20%, osteoarthritis 15%, bursitis 10% and cervical radiculopathy 5%. Other causes comprised labral tears in 7.5%, fractures in 5% and referred pain in 10% of the patients. Certain demographic variables including age, gender, and occupation, were found to be related to particular types of shoulder pathology. Visualizations helped to show the distribution and the relationships between the various etiologies. Conclusion: Rotator cuff tendinitis and adhesive capsulitis are the most frequent causes of shoulder pain in the physical medicine and rehabilitation outpatients. This paper has highlighted various conditions that should be recognized to enable early and specific management, which will improve the patient’s outcome and decrease the global impact of shoulder handicaps.