Context

In UK emergency departments (ED) a large group of patients present with musculo-skeletal disorders.

The limbs are key to human function and they are subject to significant forces, particularly at the shoulder, and injuries here are common. There is also a high incidence of spontaneous shoulder pathology in patients over 60 years of age.

Many trainees demonstrate a poor understanding of the shoulder joint. Gaining a good understanding of its anatomy and biomechanics is absolutely essential in order to learn how to manage shoulder pathology.