Enhancing the health of Canadians by fostering excellence in chiropractic care

Scope & Purpose

Is the patient recovered?

Reassess the patient at every visit to determine if additional care is necessary, or if the condition is worsening.

Discharge patient as soon as they report significant improvement in recovery. Use the self-rated recovery question to measure recovery:

"How well do you feel you are recovering from your injuries?"

Adults with shoulder pain

Conduct an appropriate clinical evaluation

Risk factors for serious pathologies?

No

Other conditions?

No

Offer information on nature, management, course of shoulder pain as a framework for initiation of a program of care

Is treatment required?

Yes

Are symptoms ≤3 months?

Yes

Management of Symptoms

Based on shared decision making between the patient and provider, any one of the following therapeutic interventions is recommended:

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Is the person recovered after 3 months?

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

Refer to appropriate services

Go to appropriate clinical care pathways and

Discharge

Are symptoms >3 months?

Management of Symptoms

Based on shared decision making between the patient and provider, any one of the following therapeutic interventions is recommended:

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Yes

Discharge

Is the person recovered?

Yes

No

Literature search updated April 2015