Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

The Shoulder pp 25–33Cite as

Shoulder Biomechanics

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Orthopaedic Study Guide Series ((ORTHSTUDY))

Abstract

The shoulder joint is the most mobile joint in the human body providing greater freedom of motion than any other joint. However the shoulder complex is also the most unstable articulation. Shoulder joint movements include flexion-extension, abduction-adduction, circumduction, and rotation. They result from a complex interplay between static and dynamic stabilizers that require equilibrium and synchronicity.

The scapulothoracic muscles transfer the potential energy of the trunk to kinetic energy in the shoulder; therefore the scapula is a key link in the kinetic chain between the trunk and the shoulder.

The purpose of this chapter is to analyze the basic clinical functional anatomy and biomechanics of shoulder structures.

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

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   199.99
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

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Rockwood CAJ, Matsen FA. The shoulder. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders-Elsevier; 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Robertson DD, Yuan J, Bigliani LU, Flatow EL, Yamaguchi K. Three-dimensional analysis of the proximal part of the humerus: relevance to arthroplasty. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2000;82-A(11):1594–602.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Churchill RS, Brems JJ, Kotschi H. Glenoid size, inclination, and version: an anatomic study. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2001;10(4):327–32. doi:10.1067/mse.2001.115269.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Friedman RJ, An Y, Chokeski R, Kessler L. Anatomic and biomechanical study of glenohumeral contact. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 1994;3:S35.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Codman EA. The Shoulder. Boston, MA: Thomas Todd; 1934.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Saha AK. Dynamic stability of the glenohumeral joint. Acta Orthop Scand. 1971;42(6):491–505.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Piasecki DP, Verma NN, Romeo AA, Levine WN, Bach Jr BR, Provencher MT. Glenoid bone deficiency in recurrent anterior shoulder instability: diagnosis and management. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2009;17(8):482–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Bigliani LU, Newton PM, Steinmann SP, Connor PM, McLlveen SJ. Glenoid rim lesions associated with recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder. Am J Sports Med. 1998;26(1):41–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Nakagawa S, Mizuno N, Hiramatsu K, Tachibana Y, Mae T. Absorption of the bone fragment in shoulders with bony Bankart lesions caused by recurrent anterior dislocations or subluxations: when does it occur? Am J Sports Med. 2013;41(6):1380–6. doi:10.1177/0363546513483087.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Baudi P, Righi P, Bolognesi D, Rivetta S, Rossi Urtoler E, Guicciardi N, Carrara M. How to identify and calculate glenoid bone deficit. Chir Organi Mov. 2005;90(2):145–52.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Rowe CR, Zarins B, Ciullo JV. Recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder after surgical repair. Apparent causes of failure and treatment. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1984;66(2):159–68.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Burkhart SS, De Beer JF. Traumatic glenohumeral bone defects and their relationship to failure of arthroscopic Bankart repairs: significance of the inverted-pear glenoid and the humeral engaging Hill-Sachs lesion. Arthroscopy. 2000;16(7):677–94.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Calandra JJ, Baker CL, Uribe J. The incidence of Hill-Sachs lesions in initial anterior shoulder dislocations. Arthroscopy. 1989;5(4):254–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Fronek J, Warren RF, Bowen M. Posterior subluxation of the glenohumeral joint. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1989;71(2):205–16.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. McLaughlin HL. Posterior dislocation of the shoulder. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1952;24A(3):584–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Goudie EB, Murray IR, Robinson CM. Instability of the shoulder following seizures. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2012;94(6):721–8. doi:10.1302/0301-620X.94B6.28259.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Di Giacomo G, De Vita A, Costantini A, de Gasperis N, Scarso P. Management of humeral head deficiencies and glenoid track. Curr Rev Muscoskelet Med. 2014;7(1):6–11. doi:10.1007/s12178-013-9194-7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Yamamoto N, Itoi E, Abe H, Minagawa H, Seki N, Shimada Y, Okada K. Contact between the glenoid and the humeral head in abduction, external rotation, and horizontal extension: a new concept of glenoid track. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2007;16(5):649–56. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2006.12.012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  20. Rao AG, Kim TK, Chronopoulos E, McFarland EG. Anatomical variants in the anterosuperior aspect of the glenoid labrum: a statistical analysis of seventy-three cases. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2003;85-A(4):653–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Owens BD, Nelson BJ, Duffey ML, Mountcastle SB, Taylor DC, Cameron KL, Campbell S, DeBerardino TM. Pathoanatomy of first-time, traumatic, anterior glenohumeral subluxation events. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2010;92(7):1605–11. doi:10.2106/JBJS.I.00851.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Speer KP, Deng X, Borrero S, Torzilli PA, Altchek DA, Warren RF. Biomechanical evaluation of a simulated Bankart lesion. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1994;76(12):1819–26.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Green MR, Christensen KP. Arthroscopic Bankart procedure: two- to five-year followup with clinical correlation to severity of glenoid labral lesion. Am J Sports Med. 1995;23(3):276–81.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Neviaser TJ. The anterior labroligamentous periosteal sleeve avulsion lesion: a cause of anterior instability of the shoulder. Arthroscopy. 1993;9(1):17–21.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Kim SH, Ha KI, Park JH, Kim YM, Lee YS, Lee JY, Yoo JC. Arthroscopic posterior labral repair and capsular shift for traumatic unidirectional recurrent posterior subluxation of the shoulder. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2003;85-A(8):1479–87.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Van Tongel A, Karelse A, Berghs B, Verdonk R, De Wilde L. Posterior shoulder instability: current concepts review. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2011;19(9):1547–53. doi:10.1007/s00167-010-1293-z.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Badge R, Tambe A, Funk L. Arthroscopic isolated posterior labral repair in rugby players. Int J Shoulder Surg. 2009;3(1):4–7. doi:10.4103/0973-6042.50875.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. McDonough A, Funk L. Critical reflection of the advanced rehabilitation of an elite rugby league player sustaining a posterior Bankart lesion. Phys Ther Sport. 2013;14(1):60–7. doi:10.1016/j.ptsp.2012.01.002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Snyder SJ, Karzel RP, Del Pizzo W, Ferkel RD, Friedman MJ. SLAP lesions of the shoulder. Arthroscopy. 1990;6(4):274–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Funk L, Snow M. SLAP tears of the glenoid labrum in contact athletes. Clin J Sport Med. 2007;17(1):1–4. doi:10.1097/JSM.0b013e31802ede87.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Rowe CR, Patel D, Southmayd WW. The Bankart procedure: a long-term end-result study. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1978;60(1):1–16.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Robinson CM, Dobson RJ. Anterior instability of the shoulder after trauma. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2004;86(4):469–79.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Bigliani LU, Pollock RG, Soslowsky LJ, Flatow EL, Pawluk RJ, Mow VC. Tensile properties of the inferior glenohumeral ligament. J Orthopaed Res. 1992;10(2):187–97. doi:10.1002/jor.1100100205.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Wolf EM, Cheng JC, Dickson K. Humeral avulsion of glenohumeral ligaments as a cause of anterior shoulder instability. Arthroscopy. 1995;11(5):600–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Jost B, Koch PP, Gerber C. Anatomy and functional aspects of the rotator interval. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2000;9(4):336–41. doi:10.1067/mse.2000.106746.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Kumar VP, Balasubramaniam P. The role of atmospheric pressure in stabilising the shoulder. An experimental study. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1985;67(5):719–21.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Terry GC, Chopp TM. Functional anatomy of the shoulder. J Athl Train. 2000;35(3):248–55.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. Collins DN (2009) Disorders of the acromioclavicular joint. In: Rockwood CAJ, Matsen FA (eds) The shoulder, vol 1. Saunders-Elsevier, Philadelphia, pp 453–526

    Google Scholar 

  39. Marcheggiani Muccioli GM, Manning C, Wright P, Grassi A, Zaffagnini S, Funk L. Acromioclavicular joint reconstruction with the LARS ligament in professional versus non-professional athletes. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2014; doi:10.1007/s00167-014-3231-y.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Jerosch J, Thorwesten L, Teigelkotter T. Proprioception of the shoulder joint in young tennis players. Sportverletz Sportschaden. 1997;11(1):1–9. doi:10.1055/s-2007-993356.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Lugo R, Kung P, Ma CB. Shoulder biomechanics. Eur J Radiol. 2008;68(1):16–24. doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2008.02.051.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Wuelker N, Korell M, Thren K. Dynamic glenohumeral joint stability. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 1998;7(1):43–52.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. 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.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Cain PR, Mutschler TA, Fu FH, Lee SK. Anterior stability of the glenohumeral joint. A dynamic model. Am J Sports Med. 1987;15(2):144–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Kirchhoff C, Imhoff AB. Posterosuperior and anterosuperior impingement of the shoulder in overhead athletes-evolving concepts. Int Orthop. 2010;34(7):1049–58. doi:10.1007/s00264-010-1038-0.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  46. Pagnani MJ, Deng XH, Warren RF, Torzilli PA, O'Brien SJ. Role of the long head of the biceps brachii in glenohumeral stability: a biomechanical study in cadavera. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1996;5(4):255–62.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Halder AM, Itoi E, An KN. Anatomy and biomechanics of the shoulder. Orthop Clin North Am. 2000;31(2):159–76.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Poppen NK, Walker PS. Forces at the glenohumeral joint in abduction. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1978;135:165–70.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Kibler WB. The role of the scapula in athletic shoulder function. Am J Sports Med. 1998;26(2):325–37.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Glousman R, Jobe F, Tibone J, Moynes D, Antonelli D, Perry J. Dynamic electromyographic analysis of the throwing shoulder with glenohumeral instability. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1988;70(2):220–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, University of Bologna, Via di Barbiano, 1/10—c/o Lab. Biomeccanicaed Innovazione Tecnologica, 40136, Bologna, Italy

    Marcheggiani Muccioli Giulio Maria M.D., Ph.D., Lullini Giada M.D., Grassi Alberto M.D., Roberti di Sarsina Tommaso M.D., Raggi Federico M.D., Carbone Giuseppe M.D. & Zaffagnini Stefano M.D.

Authors
  1. Marcheggiani Muccioli Giulio Maria M.D., Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lullini Giada M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Grassi Alberto M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Roberti di Sarsina Tommaso M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Raggi Federico M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Carbone Giuseppe M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Zaffagnini Stefano M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marcheggiani Muccioli Giulio Maria M.D., Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Orthopaedics and Traumatology Department, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

    Gazi Huri

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Division of Sports Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Nikolaos K. Paschos

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Giulio Maria, M.M. et al. (2017). Shoulder Biomechanics. In: Huri, G., Paschos, N. (eds) The Shoulder. Orthopaedic Study Guide Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51979-1_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51979-1_3

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-51977-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-51979-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation