Is There A Neck-Shoulder Syndrome?
Volume 1 - Issue 1
Jeremy Simon2 , Jeffrey Gehret2, Garett Helber2, Christopher Mehallo3, Michael Mehnert2 and Robin Raju1*
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- 1Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Yale School of Medicine, USA
- 2Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, USA
- 3Department of Sports Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, USA
*Corresponding author:
Robin Raju, Clinical Assistant Professor, Interventional Spine and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Yale School of Medicine/Yale New Haven Hospital, USA
Received: January 28, 2019; Published: February 05, 2019
DOI: 10.32474/GJAPM.2018.01.000103
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Abstract
Concomitant presentation of neck and shoulder pain is a common clinical scenario which can present a significant diagnostic
and therapeutic dilemma. Neck and shoulder pain presentations can be separated into four different categories: Primary neck
pathology with referred pain to the shoulder, primary shoulder pathology with referred pain to the neck, primary neck and primary
shoulder pathology, and primary neck pathology resulting in secondary shoulder pathology. Primary neck pathology resulting in
secondary shoulder pathology is mechanically plausible but not proven. Authors are proposing this scenario to be described as
“neck-shoulder syndrome.” For instance, C5 and/or C6 cervical radiculopathy can result in rotator cuff, deltoid, biceps and scapular
muscle weakness as these nerve roots innervate the shoulder girdle musculature which in turn could produce shoulder/scapular
muscle imbalance resulting in shoulder impingement signs. A patient may present with features of both cervical radiculopathy and
shoulder impingement syndrome in this scenario. At this time there are no agreed clinical criteria for a diagnosis of “neck-shoulder
syndrome.” As with any other syndrome, management differences can only be well studied once the entity has been properly
defined. In this article, authors set out to summarize how to best approach patients presenting with both neck and shoulder pain
while describing features of proposed “neck-shoulder syndrome.” It is paramount to take a comprehensive and holistic approach
towards patients presenting with concomitant neck and shoulder pain as the symptoms may not always represent isolated entities.
Keywords: Neck and shoulder pain; Neck-shoulder syndrome; Pain treatment; Differential diagnosis of neck and shoulder pain
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