The shoulder joint

The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the human body and allows an enormous range of movement. It is formed by the head of the upper arm bone (humerus), the shoulder socket (glenoid) and the shoulder blade (scapula). This complex anatomy allows movement in every direction, but also makes the joint susceptible to injury and wear.

The shoulder joint – function & biomechanics

The most mobile joint in the human body

Function of the shoulder joint

The shoulder allows:

Abduction and adduction (raising and lowering)
Flexion and extension (forwards and backwards)
Internal and external rotation
Combined movements (for example overhead activities)

This freedom of movement is essential for everyday activities such as dressing, washing and sport.

Biomechanics of the shoulder

Joint stability:

The rotator cuff as a dynamic stabiliser
The labrum as a static stabiliser
The capsule and ligaments

Range of movement:

Up to 180° of abduction and 170° of flexion are possible.

Force transfer:

The rotator cuff centres the head of the humerus in the socket.

Shoulder blade movement:

The shoulder blade rotates and glides to allow optimal freedom of movement.

Health & prevention

Because of its mobility, the shoulder is susceptible to:

Rotator cuff tears
Shoulder dislocations
Impingement syndrome
Frozen shoulder
Labral lesions

Prevention:

Strengthening the rotator cuff
Stretching the chest muscles
Avoiding overhead work
Good posture and ergonomics

In summary

The shoulder is a complex system of bone, muscle, tendon and ligament. Keeping it healthy in the long term depends on targeted training, good posture and having symptoms assessed early.

The team at Sportklinik Freiburg will be glad to help you with this.