Purpose: To evaluate a usefulness of the simple radiograph in the patients with chronic shoulder pain 50 years and older. Material and method: 1152 patients with chronic shoulder pain and 100 asymptomatic individuals were involved in this study. All patients were 50 years and older. We excluded patients who had a history of fracture or dislocation. Radiographic interpretation was performed on a shoulder AP view, an axillary view and a supraspinatus outlet view. For statistical analysis, a chi-square test was performed. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Abnormal radiologic findings were identified in 369(32%) out of 1152 patients with a shoulder pain: greater tuberosity sclerosis, acromial sclerosis, subacromial osteophytes are common abnormal radiologic findings. A rotator cuff tear or impingement syndrome was identified on a final diagnosis in 61(85.2%) out of the 76 patients with radiologic abnormalities in both greater tuberosity and acromion (p<0.05). Abnormal radiologic findings were identified in 18% of the asymptomatic individuals. Conclusion: Simple radiographic analysis is an important primary diagnostic tool in patients (50 years and old) with chronic shoulder pain.