Consider for a moment the wide range of motion your shoulders enjoy, allowing you to reach up, back, and forward. However, this incredible range can come at a cost as your shoulders are more vulnerable to injury. As a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Gregg K. Satow, MD, understands the limitations that a shoulder injury can place on your life, which is why he offers the most advanced and effective treatments available at his practice in Monterey, California. For expert shoulder injury care, schedule an appointment online or by phone today.
Your shoulder provides the widest range of motion of any joint in your body because it’s actually three different joints working together:
This is the shallow ball-and-socket joint where your humerus and scapula meet. This joint enables you to circle your arms and move them up and out from your body.
This joint is at the high point of your shoulder where your scapula and clavicle meet. It allows you to raise your arms overhead.
Located in the center of your chest where your clavicle connects with your sternum, this joint allows movement in your clavicle.
Holding everything together and enabling your range of motion are a host of connective tissues, namely your rotator cuff, which is a combination of muscles and tendons. Outside of your rotator cuff, you have ligaments and cartilage in your shoulders that encourage smooth movement and support.
Because of the shallow nature of the ball-and-socket joint at the heart of your shoulder, your shoulders are inherently unstable. This can cause common injuries to crop up, including:
Many shoulder injuries also come about as the result of degenerative or wear-and-tear issues, such as arthritis or tendonitis.
Any time you’re having problems moving your shoulder or you’re in pain, you’d do well to get in to see Dr. Satow. Whether your shoulder injury is acute or degenerative, the earlier Dr. Satow can diagnose and treat the injury, the better your outcome.
As with most joint injuries, deferring treatment can lead to long-term consequences and irreversible damage.
After diagnosing your shoulder injury, Dr. Satow comes up with a treatment plan that addresses your unique situation and goals. Because of the sheer variety of injuries that can occur in your shoulder, there are many different treatment options, including:
Dr. Satow usually starts out conservatively, only recommending more aggressive treatment as needed. As a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, you’re in good hands with Dr. Satow should your shoulder injury require surgery or replacement.
If you’ve injured your shoulder, call Gregg K. Satow, M.D. or schedule an appointment online today.
