The shoulder is the joint with the greatest range of motion in the body, but that freedom of motion makes it prone to instability. Shoulder instability is a chronic condition in which the shoulder joint frequently dislocates. It can be caused by an injury or through repetitive motions. The initial dislocation can be partial, where…

Tendons connect muscle to bone. Bicep tendinitis is an inflammation of the upper bicep tendon, which attaches the bicep to the shoulder, and tends to be a long term condition (chronic). Tendons tend to wear slowly over time with age and normal activity and repeated motions over a long period of time can contribute to…

Muscles attach to bones via tendons. For example, the bicep muscle is attached to bones in the shoulder by a tendon. Tendon tears can be either partial or complete. Partial tears are where the tendon is torn but still in one piece. If the tendon is in two pieces, it is a complete tear. Usually…

Frozen shoulder is a condition where the connective tissue around the shoulder thickens and stiff tissue bands (adhesions) develop. This condition, also known as adhesive capsulitis, limits and eventually stops shoulder movement, even when aided by another person. Frozen shoulder is typically detected in older patients (40+ years old). What causes frozen shoulder is not…

  The shoulder joint is a ball and socket joint in which the head (ball) of the humerus bone lies in a cupped “socket” formed by the shoulder blade and collarbone, called the glenoid. This joint allows the arm to move smoothly in a large number of directions. To help hold the arm in its…

A dislocation is an injury that occurs when the joint surfaces for bones are separated. The shoulder joint allows a very wide range of motion, and because of this, the joint can be dislocated easily. A shoulder dislocation can be complete or partial (also called a subluxation), depending on how far the joint surfaces are…

Arthritis is a common condition where joints become inflamed. There are several types of arthritis that affect the shoulder. The most common type is osteoarthritis, but there are others including rheumatoid and post-traumatic arthritis, rotator cuff tear arthropathy, and avascular necrosis. All of these types of arthritis cause pain, but stiffness and limited range of…

The clavicle (collarbone) is located between the shoulder blade and the ribcage, and it connects the arm at the shoulder to the body. Fractures in the clavicle are very common. These fractures are often caused by a direct hit to the shoulder area and can occur in a car accident or from a fall on…

The rotator cuff is the group of four muscles and four tendons around the shoulder joint. These muscles and tendons work together to provide the range of motion in the shoulder. Rotator cuff tears are a very common injury to the shoulder. This happens when one or more of the tendons tears fully or partially…