Abstract
A 31-year-old male patient presenting with shoulder pain was seen for 5 physical therapy treatment sessions over 4 weeks at an outpatient physical therapy clinic. Treatment was provided by a physical therapy student under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. The patient worked in a warehouse which entailed lifting boxes, operating a forklift, and working at a computer throughout the day. Outside of work, he enjoyed fishing, horse riding, and participating in rodeo activities. The patient was examined at the initial encounter with the numeric pain rating scale, goniometry, manual muscle testing, the scapular dyskinesis test, scapular assistance test, the subacromial impingement special tests, shoulder computerized adaptive test, and the Patient Specific Functional Scale. A plan of care was established to address the primary impairments in range of motion, strength, posture, dynamic scapular movement and pain. The main goal of the patient was to be able to work and participate in hobbies without having pain in his right shoulder or compensations to perform these activities. The primary intervention used was therapeutic exercise targeted at improving impairments in strength and motor control of scapular muscles, with the goal of reducing pain and improving his functional ability. The patient achieved clinically meaningful improvements in pain and shoulder functional ability. At the end of the episode of care, the patient was able to participate in work tasks and most hobbies without compensation. The patient was discharged from outpatient physical therapy with a home exercise program.