[In Process Citation]

The shoulder joint takes a special position among all the||| other joints of the human body because of its special requirements of stability||| and mobility. Knowledge of the biomechanics of the shoulder joint forms the||| basis for the development of modern concepts of reconstructive surgery and||| arthroplasty. Most of the biomechanical findings are the result of research||| performed on cadaver shoulders using increasingly sophisticated methods of||| measurement. These studies elucidate the interaction of the static and dynamic||| factors which contribute to the delicate balance of the glenohumeral joint.||| Recently performed research is increasingly being focussed on more detailed||| analyses of muscle forces and stress distribution in the subchondral bone and||| periarticular soft tissues. The efficiency of the computer systems now||| available has enabled the development of complex, virtual shoulder models and||| three-dimensional finite element analyses. In the future a pure mechanical||| understanding has to be modified to extend to a concept which includes more||| data obtained from living subjects, especially with regard to muscle activity||| under varying loads and neuromuscular feedback systems which currently are||| difficult to assess.