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. 2017 Jul;29(7):1219-1223.
doi: 10.1589/jpts.29.1219. Epub 2017 Jul 15.

Ultrasonography of the shoulder: asymptomatic findings from working-age women in the general population

Roberto Meroni  1 , Daniele Piscitelli  1 , Sansone Valerio  2 , Paola Boria  3 , Cecilia Perin  1 , Giovanni De Vito  1 , Cesare Maria Cornaggia  1 , Cesare Giuseppe Cerri  1
Affiliations

Ultrasonography of the shoulder: asymptomatic findings from working-age women in the general population

Roberto Meroni et al. J Phys Ther Sci. 2017 Jul.

Abstract

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of abnormal shoulder ultrasonographic findings in a sample of asymptomatic women. [Subjects and Methods] A secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study was performed. We recruited 305 women (aged 18-56 years). All the subjects had a structured interview screening for self-reported symptoms and underwent a shoulder ultrasonographic examination, in which both shoulders were examined. The radiologist was blinded to the clinical history of the participants. All detectable shoulder abnormalities were collected. [Results] Of the subjects, 228 (74.75%) were asymptomatic at both shoulders, and 456 asymptomatic shoulders were analyzed. Lack of uniformity (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, and biceps brachii long head) was found in 28 shoulders (6.14%), 19 (4.17%) on the dominant side and 9 (1.97%) on the non-dominant side. Tendinosis (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, and biceps brachii long head) was found in 19 shoulders (5.32%), 12 (2.63%) on the dominant side and 7 (1.53%) on the non-dominant side. Calcification and other abnormal findings were reported. [Conclusion] The most common abnormalities were calcifications within the rotator-cuff tendons and humeral head geodes; other degenerative findings were less common.

Keywords: Prevalence; Shoulder; Ultrasound.

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