Abstract
A patient with a medical diagnosis of chronic bilateral shoulder pain was seen for student physical therapy treatment for 6 visits over an 8-week period at an outpatient physical therapy clinic under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist.
The patient was evaluated at the initial encounter with the subacromial impingement diagnostic cluster, goniometry, manual muscle tests, the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, and the Patient Specific Functional Scale. A plan of care was established to address range of motion (ROM), periscapular weakness, pain level, and ability to work as a legal consultant. The main goals for the patient were to decrease pain, increase ability to reach, ability to pull, ability to dress herself, and increase ability to work. Main interventions used were therapeutic exercise for ROM and strength, patient education, and manual therapy. The patient achieved the following goals: decreased pain with activity, increased pain-free ROM, and increased ability to work. The patient was discharged to her home.