Nerve.  2025 Apr;11(1):1-9. 10.21129/nerve.2025.00724.

Conditions Mimicking Cervical Radiculopathy – Key Shoulder Disorders and Diagnostic Insights: A Review Article

• Shim JY
• Shin MH

• KMID: 2567384
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21129/nerve.2025.00724

Abstract

Differentiating cervical radiculopathy from shoulder pathologies is challenging due to the overlap of symptoms such as pain, weakness, and paresthesia. This review highlights key aspects of cervical radiculopathy, including clinical history, neurological findings, and provocation tests, while also focusing on common shoulder conditions such as rotator cuff disorders, adhesive capsulitis, and calcific tendinitis. Cervical radiculopathy often presents with radiating pain, sensory disturbances, and motor weakness, which can easily be confused with symptoms stemming from shoulder pathologies. A detailed clinical history, including onset, duration, and aggravating or alleviating factors, plays a crucial role in distinguishing among these conditions. Neurological assessments, such as reflex testing and sensory evaluation, provide further insights into the nature of the symptoms and assist in identifying nerve root involvement.

Keyword

Cervical Radiculopathy; Shoulder Pain; Rotator Cuff Injuries; Adhesive Capsulitis; Calcific tendinitis