Countless physicians, medical students, and therapists can describe a similar experience at one time or another during their training: a patient is behind the door in an examination room and the daily schedule has the words “shoulder pain” listed as the chief complaint. Depending on one’s experience or comfort level, many questions may immediately flood one’s mind regarding how to approach the patient: What are the various causes of shoulder pain? Is the pain really coming from the shoulder? What structures are important in the shoulder? What aspects of the physical examination will help distinguish one shoulder problem from another? The physical examination of musculoskeletal and peripheral nervous system problems is essential knowledge for broad areas of healthcare, as these problems are among the leading reasons for medical encounters. This pocket reference offers instant access to a wide array of clinical pearls to guide the physical examination and diagnosis. Whether one can choose to keep the print copy handy or use the digital version on our phone or tablet, our answer is quickly within reach. In this updated and refreshed second edition, one can search by body part or suspected diagnosis and find detailed descriptions of physical examination maneuvers, along with associated evidence of sensitivity and specificity, to help us with our diagnosis. Additionally, the reader will find all new colorized illustrations, high-resolution photos demonstrating the maneuvers, and corresponding videos that bring the examination to life. Video icons throughout chapters indicate which tests include an accompanying video. There is no substitute for excellent physical diagnosis skills. The authors hope that one will find this book useful as one develop and fine-tune their skills in order to give patients the very best care.
