Shoulder pain.

Disabling shoulder pain is common in those who engage in athletic activities and there is a wide spectrum of causes. Some entities are secondary to an acute injury such as a shoulder subluxation or dislocation with subsequent disability. More commonly, we see pain resulting from repeated insult, such as chronic tendinitis or attritional tears of the rotator cuff. Each entity has its own distinctive characteristics, so that a thorough history, physical examination, radiograms, and, occasionally, special studies should result in the proper diagnosis. The appropriate treatment can then be instituted, minimizing the period of disability as well as preventing future morbidity.