Table of contents
Shoulder osteoarthritis
What's new
Updated 2023 APTA guidelines for physical therapy in shoulder osteoarthritis.
Guidelines
Key sources
The following summarized guidelines for the evaluation and management of shoulder osteoarthritis are prepared by our editorial team based on guidelines from the European Committee on Infection Control (EUCIC/ESCMID 2024), the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA 2023), the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS 2020), and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP 2008).
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Diagnostic investigations
History and physical examination: as per APTA 2023 guidelines, elicit history and perform a physical examination for differential diagnosis of glenohumeral OA.
B
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Diagnostic imaging
Medical management
Pain management: as per AAOS 2020 guidelines, consider avoiding routine and long-term opioids for pain management in patients with glenohumeral OA.
D
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Glucosamine and chondroitin
Nonpharmacologic interventions
Physical therapy: as per APTA 2023 guidelines, offer a sling and progressive exercises for ROM and strengthening after total shoulder arthroplasty to improve patient-reported outcomes and ROM in patients with glenohumeral OA.
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Alternative and complementary therapies
Therapeutic procedures
Hyaluronic acid injections: as per AAOS 2020 guidelines, do not use hyaluronic acid for the treatment of patients with glenohumeral joint OA.
D
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Biologic injections
Cryotherapy
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
Perioperative care
Preoperative decolonization and antibiotic prophylaxis: as per ESCMID/EUCIC 2024 guidelines, consider screening patients for methicillin-susceptible and MRSA before elective orthopedic surgery, according to the local epidemiology.
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Perioperative tranexamic acid
Surgical interventions
Total shoulder arthroplasty, indications: as per AAOS 2020 guidelines, perform anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty rather than hemiarthroplasty for the treatment of patients with glenohumeral OA, as it demonstrates more favorable function and pain relief in the short- to mid-term follow-up.
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Total shoulder arthroplasty (technical considerations)
Total shoulder arthroplasty (shoulder prosthesis)
Total shoulder arthroplasty (outcomes and discharge)
Non-prosthetic surgical interventions