Diagnosing Subacromial Pain: A Stepwise Approach

Diagnosing subacromial pain can be challenging due to the lack of accurate clinical tests for specific pathologies. Dr. Angela Cardogan suggests a stepwise approach to reach a differential diagnosis. First, red flag indicators and referred sources of pain are excluded. Then, potential pathoanatomic conditions requiring different management are considered. After excluding these conditions, a symptom or impairment-based approach is used for treatment. Signs of abnormal pain presentations or other pain classifications are also taken into account. Diagnosis is seen as a process, not just a pathoanatomic label, helping identify the cause of symptoms and determine appropriate management.