ABSTRACT
Shoulder pain is a common presenting problem especially in the elderly, and can cause considerable disability. Some estimates suggest that 25% of all elderly patients suffer from shoulder pain. This can be very restrictive in maintaining independence and may also cause disturbed sleep, as the affected shoulder is often painful to lie on. Many of these shoulder problems can be managed successfully in primary care but before any management plan can be put in place it is important to diagnose accurately the cause of the pain and to tailor the therapy accordingly.
