Find information on shoulder muscle strain diagnosis, including clinical documentation, ICD-10 codes (S46.0-), medical coding guidelines, and treatment options. Learn about rotator cuff injuries, shoulder pain, muscle tear symptoms, physical therapy, and rehabilitation for shoulder muscle strains. This resource offers support for healthcare professionals, coders, and patients seeking information on shoulder muscle strain evaluation and management.
Also known as
Injuries to shoulder and upper arm
Includes sprains and strains of shoulder muscles and tendons.
Shoulder lesions
Covers other shoulder lesions like rotator cuff tears or impingement, sometimes related to strain.
Other specified disorders of muscle
Includes other muscle disorders that may involve shoulder strain symptoms.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is the shoulder strain traumatic?
Yes
Site specified?
No
Overuse/chronic?
When to use each related code
Description |
---|
Shoulder muscle strain |
Shoulder rotator cuff tear |
Shoulder impingement syndrome |
Coding with unspecified strain (S46.0) without documenting laterality or specific muscle involvement creates audit risks and lost revenue.
Incorrectly coding a traumatic strain (S46.0-) as an overuse injury (M75.1-) or vice versa leads to inaccurate data and potential denials.
Miscoding a rotator cuff tear (S46.01-) as a simple strain (S46.00-) downcodes the severity and impacts reimbursement and quality metrics.
Patient presents with complaints of shoulder pain consistent with a shoulder muscle strain. Onset of pain occurred [Date of onset] while [Mechanism of injury - e.g., lifting heavy objects, playing sports, falling]. Patient localizes pain to [Specific location - e.g., anterior, posterior, lateral shoulder], describing it as [Character of pain - e.g., sharp, dull, aching, throbbing]. Pain is aggravated by [Aggravating factors - e.g., movement, palpation, raising arm overhead] and relieved by [Relieving factors - e.g., rest, ice]. Patient denies any numbness, tingling, or radiating pain. Physical examination reveals [Objective findings - e.g., tenderness to palpation over [Specific muscle - e.g., rotator cuff muscles, deltoid, trapezius], limited range of motion in [Specific movement - e.g., abduction, flexion, external rotation], no obvious deformity or ecchymosis]. Strength testing is [Strength testing results - e.g., 5/5 throughout, 4/5 in abduction]. Neurovascular examination is intact. Differential diagnosis includes rotator cuff tear, shoulder impingement syndrome, frozen shoulder, and cervical radiculopathy. Assessment: Shoulder muscle strain, likely involving [Specific muscle - e.g., rotator cuff muscles]. Plan: Conservative management with rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE). Patient advised to avoid activities that exacerbate pain. Over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen or naproxen recommended for pain management. Referral to physical therapy for range of motion exercises and strengthening as needed. Follow-up appointment scheduled in [Duration - e.g., 2 weeks] to assess response to treatment. ICD-10 code: [Appropriate ICD-10 code - e.g., S46.0].