95% of shoulder pain presentations need only 'education and watchful waiting', says JAMA review
A JAMA Internal Medicine review suggests that 95% of shoulder pain cases can be managed with conservative treatments like education and exercise. The study highlights that routine imaging often leads to unnecessary interventions without improving patient outcomes.
Why it matters
This finding challenges common medical practices, potentially reducing healthcare costs and preventing unnecessary diagnostic procedures for patients.
Education, activity modification, analgesia, exercise-based rehabilitation and watchful waiting are sufficient to manage 95% of shoulder pain presentations in primary care, Australian experts say.
Their review in JAMA Internal Medicine says early routine imaging, which may detect incidental anomalies, remains common despite not being associated with better outcomes.
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