Most shoulder problems involve the shoulder's soft tissues: the tendons (def.)Tendons Tendons are cord-like structures made of collagen that connect muscles to bones., ligaments (def.)Ligaments Ligaments are thick fibrous bands of tissue that link two or more bones together and frequently stabilize joints. or muscles (def.)Muscles Muscles are tissues composed of fibers that contract, allowing body parts to move. One of the most important shoulder muscles is the supraspinatus muscle — one of four rotator cuff muscles.. The bones also can be affected.

Your doctor will help diagnose your problem and work with you to develop a treatment plan. You do not have to live with shoulder pain or a lack of strength and shoulder mobility.

Many conditions of the shoulder are interrelated. For example, tendinitis may be related to a torn rotator cuff. Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) may be related to bursitis. Learn more about common shoulder problems: