Overview

Both the shoulder and elbow joints are imperative to arm movement. If one joint’s mobility is impacted, it will significantly affect the other joint as well.

The shoulder and elbow joints are vastly complex structures, composed of bones, ligaments, muscles, tendons, nerves, and blood vessels. The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint that connects our upper arm with our torso, by joining the humerus with the scapula. The elbow is a synovial hinge joint that connects the humerus to the radius, and ulna.

Although the shoulder and elbow are non-weight bearing, they are extensively used for day-to-day activities. Athletes are particularly prone to injuring their elbow and shoulder joints, but fortunately, the physicians at The Orthopaedic Institute are specially-trained in performing advanced shoulder and elbow surgery for individuals with problems related to tendon tears, instability, fractures, arthritis, and other conditions that impede arm movement.