A new interview with an orthopedic surgeon in Massachusetts highlights various aspects of shoulder injuries, which are alarmingly common in the United States. The doctor interviewed for the story points out that the susceptibility to injury stems from the fact that the rotator cuff is a highly mobile part of the body that is nevertheless incredibly reliant on tendons and muscles for movement. Thus, if a person is putting those muscles through an excessive amount of movement due to some kind of activity, the rotator cuff can suffer. The movements inherent to tennis can exacerbate damage, as can pitching, especially if pitchers are asked to throw more balls than is safe.
The shoulder is a complex structure made of three separate joints. They work together to give the shoulder a tremendous range of motion. Let's take a closer look at the main parts of the shoulder's anatomy.