To assess the natural history and response to treatment of shoulder disorders in a community elderly population.
This community study of shoulder pain in the elderly reviewed patients three years after an earlier prevalence study.
One hundred and eight of the original 136 patients with an identifiable shoulder disorder were available for reexamination. Eighty (74%) had persisting signs on examination, with persistent symptoms leading to impairment of personal care (21%) and household tasks (27%), and pain on movement (34%). There was no difference between treated and non-treated groups in terms of outcome.
The results of this study serve to confirm and highlight the chronicity of shoulder lesions in this age group and the consequent personal suffering and implications for health care.