Abstract
An 18-year-old female patient with a diagnosis of right shoulder pain was seen for student physical therapy treatment for 13 visits at an outpatient orthopedic clinic under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist.
The patient was evaluated at the initial encounter with observation of posture, the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, goniometry, Manual Muscle Testing, special testing for various pathologies associated with shoulder impingement syndrome, assessment of glenohumeral joint passive accessory movements, palpation, and utilization of the Patient Specific Functional Scale, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, and Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaires. A plan of care was established to address right shoulder pain, impaired shoulder active range of motion (AROM), and decreased strength. The pain, AROM, and strength impairments resulted in moderate limitations with right side sleeping and performing overhead-related movements, restricting her participation in college volleyball. Main goals for the patient were to decrease right shoulder pain, improve sleeping tolerance on her right side, and return to full participation in college volleyball. Main interventions used were pain-reducing modalities, therapeutic exercise, and task-specific exercises related to the overhead volleyball serve. The patient achieved the following goals: decreased right shoulder pain, increased AROM, increased tolerance for right side sleeping, and increased ability to perform overhead-related activities. The patient returned to full participation in volleyball and was discharged with a home exercise program.