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The Shoulder

The shoulder is the most flexible joint in the human body. It allows you to place and rotate your arm in many positions in front, above, to the side, and behind your body. This flexibility also makes your shoulder susceptible to instability and injury. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), in 2003 some 13.7 million people went to the doctor's office for a shoulder problem.

How the Shoulder Works

The shoulder, like the hip, is a ball-and-socket joint. It is made up of three bones: the upper arm bone (humerus), the shoulder blade (scapula) and the collarbone (clavicle). The ball at the top end of the arm bone fits into the small socket of the shoulder blade to form the shoulder joint.

The socket of the shoulder joint is extremely shallow, making it unstable. To compensate for this shallow socket, the shoulder joint has a soft rim of cartilage (the labrum) that surrounds the socket to help make the head of the upper arm bone fit better and stabilize the joint.

Common Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder injuries are frequently caused by athletic activities that involve excessive, repetitive, overhead motion, such as swimming, tennis, pitching, and weightlifting. Injuries can also occur during day-to-day activities like washing walls, hanging curtains, and gardening.

Most problems in the shoulder involve the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, rather than the bones.

Some people have a tendency to ignore the pain and "play through" a shoulder injury, which aggravates the condition and may cause more problems. Patients may also underestimate the extent of their injury because steady pain, weakness in the arm, or limitation of joint motion can become second nature. Early, correct diagnosis and treatment of shoulder problems can make a significant difference in the long run.

Shoulder Resources

Broken Bones and Injury

• Common Shoulder Injuries
• Shoulder Trauma

Fractures

• Broken Arm
• Broken Collarbone
• Elbow Fractures in Children
• Forearm Fractures in Children
• Fracture of the Shoulder Blade (Scapula)
• Olecranon (Elbow) Fractures
• Radial Head Fractures

Tears and Instability

• Biceps Tendon Tear at the Elbow
• Biceps Tendon Tear at the Shoulder
• Rotator Cuff Tears
• Rotator Cuff Tears and Treatment Options
• Rotator Cuff Tears: Frequently Asked Questions
• Shoulder Joint Tear (Glenoid Labrum Tear)

Other Injuries

• Burners and Stingers
• Elbow Dislocation
• Erb's Palsy (Brachial Plexus Birth Injury)
• Shoulder Dislocation
• Shoulder Impingement
• Shoulder Separation
• Throwing Injuries in the Elbow

Diseases and Syndromes

• Biceps Tendonitis
• Compartment Syndrome
• Erb's Palsy (Brachial Plexus Birth Injury)
• Ulnar Nerve Entrapment

Shoulder

• Arthritis of the Shoulder
• Frozen Shoulder
• Shoulder Impingement
• Shoulder Pain
• Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Elbow

• Elbow (Olecranon) Bursitis
• Osteoarthritis of the Elbow
• Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)

Treatment and Rehabilitation

• Rotator Cuff Tears and Treatment Options

Surgical Treatments

• Shoulder Joint Replacement
• Shoulder Surgery
• Thermal Capsulorrhaphy

Postoperative Care

• Shoulder Surgery Exercise Guide

Specialized Care

Baylor College of Medicine offers comprehensive, specialized care for the treatment of shoulder disorders and injuries. Our physicians are specially trained and experienced in arthroscopic shoulder surgery (a minimally invasive surgery that reduces postoperative pain and expedites recovery), shoulder replacement surgery, and other surgical and non-surgical treatments.

The Baylor Sports Medicine Institute is renowned for state-of-the-art treatment of shoulder and other athletic injuries by orthopedic surgeons specialty trained in sports medicine. We specialize in the prompt diagnosis of athletic injuries and immediate initiation of appropriate rehabilitative techniques. We perform surgery if necessary, exercising all options to facilitate the return of the injured athlete to their activities of choice. Our doctors are trusted physicians of professional sports teams and leaders in the development of new surgical techniques and devices.

As Baylor College of Medicine faculty members, our physicians not only provide expert clinical and surgical care, they also serve as researchers and educators for one of the nation's leading medical schools. As a result, they offer firsthand knowledge of the latest advancements in orthopedic surgery, and the ability to translate those advancements into better treatment for your shoulder injury or disorder.

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