Shoulder pain following a whiplash injury may not be radiating pain from the neck. 

A recent study by Dr. Ali Abbassian and Dr. Grey Giddins looked at 220 patients who suffered whiplash from a motor vehicle accident (MVA).  Of these, 56 also suffered from new onset shoulder pain.  Dr. Abbassian then evaluated these 56 patients to determine if a concomitant diagnosis of subacromial impingement syndrome existed.

Subacromial impingement is a condition treatable by physical therapy that, undiagnosed, can leave patients in unnecessary pain.  Diagnosis of subacromial impingement was made based on positive results of the following 4 tests:

• Neer impingement sign,
• Hawkins-Kennedy impingement sign,
• Painful arc sign, and
• Supraspinatus muscle test weakness.

Of 56 patients with new onset shoulder pain following MVA, 11 patients (19.6%) had clinicial evidence of impingement syndrome and only 3 had the diagnosis made prior to visiting Dr. Abbassian.  To our profession’s credit, one of those early diagnoses was made by a physiotherapist.  These patients suffered pain from lack of treatment an average of 8.8 months before diagnosis.

Some common attributes: 

• The patients tended to be older —  57.5 years for those with impingement syndrome versus 36.9 years for those with shoulder pain but without impingement syndrome.
• All of the patients had direct trauma either from the seatbelt (83%) or other impact to the shoulder.

Want to read more:  Visit the open-source Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research article by Dr. Abbassian dated June 27, 2008.