Webinar Assistant Professor Ann Cools – Clinical Examination of the Shoulder: Are we throwing the baby out with the bathwater?

Webinar – Clinical Examination of the Shoulder

Are we throwing the baby out with the bathwater?

Prof. Dr. Ann Cools

In recent scientific literature on shoulder pain, two major topics have generated significant debate within musculoskeletal physiotherapy.

The first debate concerns the terminology used to label shoulder pain. Traditionally, many shoulder complaints were described as subacromial impingement. However, contemporary literature increasingly advocates alternative umbrella terms such as subacromial pain syndrome or rotator cuff related shoulder pain. This shift reflects a broader move away from purely structural explanations toward a functional and biopsychosocial interpretation of shoulder disorders.

The second major discussion focuses on the clinical value of orthopaedic shoulder tests. Research has shown that many individual tests demonstrate limited diagnostic accuracy when attempting to identify specific structural pathology. Nevertheless, this does not mean that these tests should be abandoned.

Within modern physiotherapy practice, these tests can still provide clinically relevant information by helping clinicians to:

• provoke and reproduce symptoms
• identify potential biomechanical conflicts
• assess functional deficits
• explore strategies that may reduce symptoms.

Current evidence therefore encourages clinicians to move beyond purely structural diagnosis and instead focus on functional impairments, tissue irritability, and patient-specific goals when developing treatment strategies.

In this webinar, Prof. Dr. Ann Cools translates contemporary research into practical clinical reasoning strategies for physiotherapists. Particular attention is given to the integration of patient history, functional examination and additional testing within a structured assessment framework.

The central question explored in this webinar is:

Should we abandon traditional shoulder tests entirely, or should we reinterpret them within a modern functional framework?

This webinar provides physiotherapists with an evidence-based perspective on shoulder assessment and helps translate research findings into practical clinical decision-making.

Learning Objectives

After completing this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate the different terminology used to describe shoulder pain and explain its implications for clinical reasoning and patient communication.
2. Integrate patient history, functional examination and clinical testing to formulate an evidence-based physiotherapeutic working hypothesis in patients with shoulder pain.
3. Assess the diagnostic limitations of orthopaedic shoulder tests and interpret test findings within a contemporary biopsychosocial model.
4. Differentiate between symptom-provoking and symptom-reducing tests and apply these concepts in the clinical assessment of shoulder disorders.
5. Develop patient-centred rehabilitation strategies based on functional impairments, tissue irritability and participation limitations.

Accreditation

The webinar has been accredited by PQK and Kwaliteitshuis Fysiotherapie.