Description
Shoulder Orthopedic Assessment
Instructor: James Demetrious, DC, DABCO
Cost: $50 – 2 CE Hours
Course Description:
This two-hour postgraduate lecture provides an advanced, clinically practical approach to the evaluation of shoulder pain and dysfunction. Emphasis is placed on functional and MRI anatomy, orthopedic examination strategies, test sensitivity and specificity, and appropriate use of imaging in both acute and chronic presentations. Participants will learn to integrate physical examination findings with imaging interpretation to improve diagnostic accuracy, identify red flags, and determine appropriate conservative management versus referral. Case-based examples are used throughout to reinforce clinical reasoning and risk-management principles relevant to chiropractic practice.
Hourly Breakdown:
- Hour 1:
- Functional and applied anatomy of the shoulder complex
- Pain referral patterns and their diagnostic implications
- Epidemiology and common clinical presentations
- Orthopedic examination principles
- Sensitivity, specificity, and limitations of shoulder special tests
- Hour 2:
- Indications for imaging in acute vs. chronic shoulder pain
- Plain radiography, MRI, and common imaging findings
- Rotator cuff pathology: tendinosis, partial- and full-thickness tears
- Labral pathology, instability patterns, and biceps tendon disorders
- Non-musculoskeletal and red-flag diagnoses (e.g., neoplasm, infection, neurologic conditions). Case-based diagnostic reasoning and referral decision-making
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the functional anatomy of the shoulder and its relevance to clinical presentation.
- Apply evidence-informed orthopedic examination strategies to assess shoulder disorders.
- Interpret the clinical strengths and limitations of common shoulder special tests.
- Differentiate between acute and chronic shoulder conditions using history, exam, and imaging findings.
- Correlate imaging findings with clinical examination to refine differential diagnoses.
- Identify red flags and conditions requiring modification of care or referral.
- Improve diagnostic confidence and documentation in the evaluation of shoulder pain
Instructor: James Demetrious, DC, DABCO
Dr. James Demetrious is a nationally distinguished, board certified chiropractic orthopedist. He is a clinician, educator, author, and editor. Dr. Demetrious is the co-founder and CEO of PostGradDC. He is a member of the NCMIC Speakers’ Bureau and teaches post-graduate coursework throughout the United States. He has published peer-reviewed journal papers related to advanced differential diagnosis. Dr. Demetrious has continually cared for patients since 1986.
