clinical, and ultrasonographic study of shoulder joint disorders and related disability in the elderly

ABSTRACT

The present study was carried out on 100 elderly persons [65-80 years old]. They were 36 males and 64females. The objective was to determine the prevalence of shoulder disorders and to identify the associated disability in this age group, using clinical as well as ultra-sonographic methods The results showed that shoulder disorders, affecting one or both shoulders, were present in 39% of this age population The Commonest disorder was frozen shoulder occurring in 14%, while the least identifiable disorder was rotator cuff rupture affecting 3%. Disability related to the shoulder was present in 84% of this age, was correlated to a significantly reduced [P<0.005] range of shoulder movements and was greatly enhanced by shoulder disorders. We concluded that regular assessment of the shoulder joint in persons above 60 years may identify those with subtle signs of shoulder diseases, in the hope of early treatment to improve the quality of their Life