An Overview on Common Shoulder Injuries and the Need for Shoulder Specialists & Board Certified Shoulder Surgeons
Shoulder injuries are one of the leading reasons individuals living in the Santa Barbara, Goleta, Santa Maria and Ventura, California communities visit a physician each year. Injuries to the shoulder joint are often caused by athletic activities and work tasks that involve repetitive overhead motions, such as throwing a baseball, swimming and painting. As the most flexible joint in the human body, the shoulder is in constant motion and is prone to injury because of its wide range of mobility. Shoulder specialist and board certified shoulder surgeon, Dr. Jervis Yau is available to diagnose and treat many of the common injuries and conditions that limit daily work and sports.
Anatomy and Function of the Shoulder
The shoulder is a highly mobile ball-and-socket joint formed where the upper arm bone (humerus) fits into the shoulder blade (scapula). The humeral head is considered the ball portion and the scapula is considered the socket portion. Numerous bones and soft tissues structures compose the shoulder and work in unison to provide mobility and stability to the shoulder and arm during movement.
Injuries to any of the soft tissue or bony structures can cause patients to experience joint pain, stiffness, swelling, loss of mobility and an overall decrease in joint function. Patients experiencing a stiff shoulder, loss of rotation, lack in strength or the sensation of the joint sliding out of socket are encouraged to contact a shoulder specialist and orthopedic shoulder surgeon in order to determine the severity of the injury or condition.
Santa Barbara, CA Shoulder Specialist Available to Diagnose and Treat Common Shoulder Injuries
Athletes of all levels, especially those involved in overhead throwing sports, run the greatest risk of experiencing a shoulder injury. In the majority of cases, the shoulder’s ligaments, tendons and muscles become damaged, rather than the bones. Certain athletes “play through” pain and other symptoms because they do not want to take time off, but this may aggravate the existing injury and lead to an increased risk of further injury.
Dr. Yau, shoulder specialist, diagnoses and treats these common shoulder injuries and conditions:
- AC joint injury
- Dislocated shoulder
- Fractured shoulder
- Frozen shoulder
- Labral and SLAP tear
- Rotator cuff injury
- SC joint injury
- Shoulder impingement
Minimally Invasive Procedures Performed by Board Certified Shoulder Surgeons
Early detection and diagnosis are the key elements to preventing chronic shoulder conditions. Whenever possible, Dr. Yau will utilize non-surgical treatments to alleviate painful injury symptoms. If the injury is too severe or does not heal with conservative measures, an arthroscopic procedure may be recommended. As a board certified shoulder surgeon, Dr. Yau performs shoulder arthroscopy in the majority of his patients so a quick recovery with less pain can be achieved.
Dr. Yau uses shoulder arthroscopy techniques in these common treatments:
- AC joint repair
- Clavicle fracture surgery
- Frozen shoulder treatment
- Labral and SLAP tear surgery
- Rotator cuff repair
Orthopedic shoulder specialist and shoulder surgeon, Dr. Jervis Yau can treat individuals living in the Santa Barbara, Goleta, Santa Maria and Ventura, California area affected by numerous shoulder injuries and conditions.