Skip to main content

Biomechanics of the Shoulder

  • Chapter
Fractures of the Proximal Humerus

Part of the book series: Strategies in Fracture Treatments ((SFT))

  • 1115 Accesses

Abstract

The shoulder joint is the most flexible joint of the human body. The enormous range of motion is facilitated by the sequential connection of four bones. The balanced articulation of the glenohumeral joint is provided by the rotator cuff which inserts around the humeral head fulfilling the centering function aspect of the proximal humerus over the much smaller glenoid and provides adequate force distribution during shoulder motion. Besides these osseous and muscular parts, stabilizing effects are also contributed by ligaments and the capsule-ligamentous complex. If the fine composition of bones, muscles and surrounding soft tissue is affected by any kind of injury, unbalanced motion or even instability may result. These changes may affect the biomechanics of the shoulder and alter the shoulder joint inducing loss of power and pain according to the underlaying pathology. This chapter concentrates on the physiological range of motion and the different stabilizing and anatomical aspects of the shoulder.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 159.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Gohlke F. Biomechanik der Schulter. Orthopade. 2000;10:835–44.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Clark J, Sidles JA, Matsen FA. The relationship of the glenohumeral joint capsule to the rotator cuff. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1990;254:29–34.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Soslowsky LJ, Flatow EL, Bigliani LU, Mow VC. Articular geometry of the glenohumeral joint. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1992;285:181–90.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Soslowsky LJ, Flatow EL, Bigliani LU, Pawluk RJ, Ateshian GA, Mow VC. Quantitation of in situ contact areas at the glenohumeral joint: a biomechanical study. J Orthop Res. 1992;10(4):524–34.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Howell SM, Galinat BJ. The glenoid-labral socket. A constrained articular surface. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1989;243:122–5.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Lippitt S, Matsen F. Mechanisms of glenohumeral joint stability. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1993;291:20–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Matsen 3rd FA. The biomechanics of glenohumeral stability. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2002;84-A(3):495–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Matsen 3rd FA, Harryman 2nd DT, Sidles JA. Mechanics of glenohumeral instability. Clin Sports Med. 1991;10(4):783–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Habermeyer P, Schuller U, Wiedemann E. The intra-articular pressure of the shoulder: an experimental study on the role of the glenoid labrum in stabilizing the joint. Arthroscopy. 1992;8(2):166–72.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Itoi E, Motzkin NE, Browne AO, Hoffmeyer P, Morrey BF, An KN. Intraarticular pressure of the shoulder. Arthroscopy. 1993;9(4):406–13.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Hoffmeyer P. Biomechanics of the shoulder – kinematics and intra-articular vacuum. Orthopade. 1992;21(1):71–4.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Itoi E, Lee SB, Berglund LJ, Berge LL, An KN. The effect of a glenoid defect on anteroinferior stability of the shoulder after Bankart repair: a cadaveric study. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2000;82(1):35–46.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Yamamoto N, Itoi E, Abe H, Kikuchi K, Seki N, Minagawa H, Tuoheti Y. Effect of an anterior glenoid defect on anterior shoulder stability: a cadaveric study. Am J Sports Med. 2009;37(5):949–54.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Warner JJ, Caborn DN, Berger R, Fu FH, Seel M. Dynamic capsuloligamentous anatomy of the glenohumeral joint. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 1993;2(3):115–33.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. O’Brien SJ, Neves MC, Arnoczky SP, Rozbruck SR, Dicarlo EF, Warren RF, Schwartz R, Wickiewicz TL. The anatomy and histology of the inferior glenohumeral ligament complex of the shoulder. Am J Sports Med. 1990;18(5):449–56.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Turkel SJ, Panio MW, Marshall JL, Girgis FG. Stabilizing mechanisms preventing anterior dislocation of the glenohumeral joint. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1981;63(8):1208–17.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Harryman 2nd DT, Sidles JA, Clark JM, McQuade KJ, Gibb TD, Matsen 3rd FA. Translation of the humeral head on the glenoid with passive glenohumeral motion. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1990;72(9):1334–43.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Harryman 2nd DT, Walker ED, Harris SL, Sidles JA, Jackins SE, Matsen 3rd FA. Residual motion and function after glenohumeral or scapulothoracic arthrodesis. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 1993;2(6):275–85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Harryman DT, Sidles JA, Harris SL, Lippitt SB, Matsen 3rd FA. The effect of articular conformity and the size of the humeral head component on laxity and motion after glenohumeral arthroplasty. A study in cadavera. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1995;77(4):555–63.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Howell SM, Kraft TA. The role of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles in glenohumeral kinematics of anterior should instability. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1991;263:128–34.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. van der Helm FC. A finite element musculoskeletal model of the shoulder mechanism. J Biomech. 1994;27(5):551–69.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Kuechle DK, Newman SR, Itoi E, Niebur GL, Morrey BF, An KN. The relevance of the moment arm of shoulder muscles with respect to axial rotation of the glenohumeral joint in four positions. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2000;15(5):322–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Kuechle DK, Newman SR, Itoi E, Morrey BF, An KN. Shoulder muscle moment arms during horizontal flexion and elevation. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 1997;6(5):429–39.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Thompson WO, Debski RE, Boardman 3rd ND, Taskiran E, Warner JJ, Fu FH, Woo SL. A biomechanical analysis of rotator cuff deficiency in a cadaveric model. Am J Sports Med. 1996;24(3):286–92.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Philipp Ahrens .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Ahrens, P. (2015). Biomechanics of the Shoulder. In: Biberthaler, P., Kirchhoff, C., Waddell, J. (eds) Fractures of the Proximal Humerus. Strategies in Fracture Treatments. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20300-3_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20300-3_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-20299-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-20300-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics