Impingement / Instability Differentiation

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Purpose

The purpose of this article is to help healthcare providers differentiate between shoulder impingement and instability by utilizing the most current literature.

 

References

Caliş M, Akgün K, Birtane M, Karacan I, Caliş H, Tüzün F. Diagnostic values of clinical diagnostic tests in subacromial impingement syndrome. Ann Rheum Dis. 2000 Jan;59(1):44-7.

Farber AJ, Castillo R, Clough, M, et. al. Clinical assessment of three common tests for traumatic anterior shoulder instability. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006;88:1467-1474.

Gross ML & Distefano MC. Anterior release test. A new test for occult shoulder instability. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1997;339:105-108.

Michener LA, Walsworth MK, Doukas WC, Murphy KP. Reliability and diagnostic accuracy of 5 physical examination tests and combination of tests for subacromial impingement. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2009 Nov;90(11):1898-903.

Lo IK, Nonweiler B, Woolfrey M, et. al. An evaluation of the apprehension, relocation, and surprise tests for anterior shoulder instability. Amer J Sports Med. 2004;32:301-307.

Nakagawa S, Yoneda M, Hayashida K, et. al. Forced shoulder abduction and elbow flexion test: a new simple clinical test to detect superior labral injury in the throwing shoulder. J Arthr Relat Surg. 2005;21:1290-1295.

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