The Shoulder

Your shoulder is a complex joint that gives your arm a wide range of motion. It is where three bones come together — the collarbone, scapula (shoulder blade), and humerus (arm bone). The shoulder also includes ligaments, tendons, muscles, and cartilage.

Shoulder problems usually result from a disease of the soft tissues or an injury. Overuse from repetitive motions during hobby, sports, or work commonly causes soft tissue problems. Fractures and other bone injuries of the shoulder are usually due to trauma. 

If your shoulder injury occurred while playing a sport or exercising, our sports medicine program can help you recover and prevent future injuries.

Common Causes of Shoulder Pain

At Dignity Health, we treat a wide range of shoulder injuries and conditions, including:

  • arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the cartilage and bones of the shoulder. Osteoarthritis of the shoulder is a degenerative disease of the joint that causes breakdown of cartilage and other damage.
  • bursitis
  • dislocated shoulder
  • fracture
  • frozen shoulder
  • impingement symdrome
  • labral tears
  • rotator cuff tear
  • shoulder instability

Your specific shoulder problem will determine your treatment plan. We specialize in the latest procedures, including minimally invasive surgery, and more. See the complete list of surgeries we perform.

Learn More

Please call us at (415) 221-0665 to schedule an appointment or for more information. To find an orthopedic surgeon, use our online feature, Find a Doctor tool.