INTRODUCTION: The correlation among shoulder pain, abnormal physical examination and ultrasonography is controversial in the occupational scenario. OBJECTIVE: Establish the association between pain, physical examination and ultrasounds in workers of a pharmaceutical industry. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred workers were invited to take part in the study and submitted to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and 93 were included. All enrolled patients gave written informed consent, and had a physical examination performed by one of the authors. Ultrasound examination was performed, at the latest one month of the physical examination, by an experienced operator who was blind to the clinical setting. RESULTS: There was statistical correlation between pain and clinical maneuvers in 57 shoulders for supraspinatus tendon (SE) (P = 0,000) and no correlation with biceps tendon maneuvers (P > 0,05). In the comparison between clinical findings and ultrasonography, the maneuvers of Neer, Hawkins and Jobe had statistical association (P < 0,05). The association between pain and altered ultrasonography was statistically significant (16 among 57 individuals with pain, with P < 0,05), but there was significant false-positive ultrasound findings in asymptomatic shoulders (7 individuals). CONCLUSION: The precise diagnosis is a complex process, which requires the association of clinical and occupational anamnesis, accurate physical examination and ultrasonography performed by an experienced operator.
occupational medicine; shoulder pain; repetitive strain injuries; work-related musculoskeletal disorders; shoulder ultrasonography; occupational diseases
