108. Cervical spine referred shoulder pain assessment, diagnosis & treatment with Jo Gibson

Physio Edge podcast

When is shoulder pain from the C/sp? When a patient presents with shoulder pain and stiffness, how can C/Sp referral be identified? If a patient has full neck range of movement, and neck movements don’t reproduce shoulder pain, can their pain still be from the C/sp?

Recent research shows that including treatment of the C/sp can improve results in up to ⅓ of shoulder pain patients. In this video with Jo Gibson (Clinical Physiotherapy Specialist) discover how to identify, assess and treat patients with cervical referral, including:

• What history and pain features will patients with cervical referred shoulder pain report?
• What assessment tests can be performed to diagnose or rule out the C/Sp involvement in shoulder pain?
• What information does palpation and repeated movements in the objective assessment provide?
• What does the research reveal about cervical referred shoulder pain?
• What biopsychosocial factors may be involved in cervical referred shoulder pain?
• How can manual therapy to the C/Sp improve shoulder range of movement?
• What education can be provided to patients with cervical spine referral?
• What exercises and exercise variations may be used to improve cervical referred shoulder pain?
• Are upper muscle fibres of trapezius “overactive” or are these muscles actually weak?
• What exercises can be used for upper traps in C/sp referred shoulder pain?
• What manual therapy can be used for C/sp referred shoulder pain?
• Does the thorax get “stiff”, and what exercises help improve thoracic range of movement?

Get your access to free videos with Jo Gibson on acute shoulder pain & stiff shoulder assessment & diagnosis at clinicaledge.co/shoulder.

Links associated with this episode:

• Download and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes
• Download the podcast now using the best podcast app currently in existence - Overcast
• Listen to the podcast on Spotify
• Improve your diagnosis of acute shoulder pain with 3 free videos with Jo Gibson
• Improve your confidence and clinical reasoning with a free trial Clinical Edge membership
• Let David know what you liked about this podcast on Twitter
• Review the podcast on iTunes
• Like the podcast on Facebook
• Infographics by Clinical Edge
• Jo Gibson on Twitter

Articles associated with this episode:

• CLICK HERE to download the articles associated with this podcast
• Alonso-Perez JL, Lopez-Lopez A, La Touche R, Lerma-Lara S, Suarez E, Rojas J, Bishop MD, Villafañe JH, Fernández-Carnero J. Hypoalgesic effects of three different manual therapy techniques on cervical spine and psychological interaction: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 2017 Oct 1;21(4):798-803.
• Hauswirth J, Ernst MJ, Preusser ML, Meichtry A, Kool J, Crawford RJ. Immediate effects of cervical unilateral anterior-posterior mobilisation on shoulder pain and impairment in post-operative arthroscopy patients. Journal of back and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. 2017 Jan 1;30(3):615-23.
• Katsuura Y, Bruce J, Taylor S, Gullota L, Kim HJ. Overlapping, Masquerading, and Causative Cervical Spine and Shoulder Pathology: A Systematic Review. Global Spine Journal. 2020 Apr;10(2):195-208.
• Vicenzino B, Collins D, Benson H, Wright A. An investigation of the interrelationship between manipulative therapy-induced hypoalgesia and sympathoexcitation. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics. 1998 Sep 1;21(7):448-53.