Clinical decision-making for treatment of shoulder pain and motion syndromes

Abstract

Clinical decision-making is a complex and dynamic process that combines a physician’s clinical expertise with scientific evidence to provide patients with the best possible care. When diagnosing shoulder complaints, physicians often aim to identify an anatomical cause to enable targeted treatment. However, in many cases, the exact origin of shoulder pain remains unclear. Complaints are frequently the result of multiple, interconnected, and sometimes still unknown factors. This creates significant challenges in both diagnosing and treating shoulder conditions—whether the cause is clearly identifiable, such as in neurogenic scapula alata, or less defined, as in subacromial pain syndrome (SAPS).

This thesis focuses on improving the understanding of factors that influence the treatment of shoulder pain and movement syndromes. The goal is to provide insights into the elements that physicians require to make well-informed treatment decisions, whether the underlying cause is known or remains uncertain.