What is a common symptom reported by a patient experiencing right shoulder pain while dressing?

• A. Pain radiating into the left arm
• B. Pain during sleep
• C. Pain while reaching across the body
• D. Pain while dressing and washing hair

Answer: (D)

In the context of shoulder pain, particularly when a patient experiences it while dressing, the symptom of pain while dressing and washing hair is commonly reported. This is due to the activities involved requiring overhead movement and reaching, which can exacerbate shoulder issues like rotator cuff injury, adhesive capsulitis, or shoulder impingement syndrome.

These activities often require a combination of shoulder flexion, abduction, and internal/external rotation, putting stress on the shoulder structures. Since dressing typically involves reaching behind or across the body, it is not uncommon for pain to increase during these movements, highlighting the correlation between specific tasks and the manifestation of shoulder pain.

In contrast, while pain radiating into the left arm might suggest cardiac issues or left shoulder problems, it is not directly associated with the act of dressing. Pain during sleep can also occur with shoulder conditions but is more related to positioning or inflammation rather than specific functional tasks. Similarly, pain while reaching across the body is a component of shoulder dysfunction but does not encompass the broader activities like dressing and washing hair, which require more nuanced movement patterns.