Screening for Head, Neck, and Shoulder Pathology in Patients with Upper Extremity Signs and Symptoms
published online 12 February 2010.
Abstract
Narrative Review
Conditions of the head, neck, thorax, and shoulder may occur simultaneously with arm pathology or produce symptoms perceived by the patient to originate in the elbow, wrist, or hand. Identification of the tissue disorder and associated impairments, followed by matching the rehabilitative intervention to address these issues, leads to optimal outcomes. With this goal in mind, the hand therapist needs to recognize clinical findings that signal potentially serious medical conditions of the brain, cervical region, chest, or shoulder. Additionally, less serious but potentially debilitating, musculoskeletal or neurogenic pain from proximal sources must also be differentiated from somatic pain originating in the elbow, wrist, or hand so that the clinician can decide to further examine and intervene or refer to an appropriate health care provider. This article describes clinical findings that suggest the presence of serious medical pathology in the head, neck, or thorax and presents a screening algorithm to assist in discriminating pain derived from local structures in the distal arm from referred pain originating in the more proximal regions of the shoulder, thorax, neck, or brain.
Level of Evidence
5.
Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency Program, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Los Angeles, California
Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, California
Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency Program, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Los Angeles, California
Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California
Clinical Education and Practice, OptimisCorp, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
Correspondence and reprint requests to Emmanuel Yung, DPT, MA, OCS, FAAOMPT, Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency Program, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, 6041 Cadillac Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90034
ABSTRACT