Abstract
The upper limb, with its mobile shoulder, its extensible and folding member, the arm and forearm, and its terminal working tool the hand, is versatile and has a large range of movement allowing the manipulation of objects. Loss of function in any one of the upper limb joints translates into reduced function of the hand, which could hamper such daily activities as eating, dressing, and personal hygiene. Furthermore, in patients who’s lower limb joints are affected by disease, or who suffer from a neuromuscular disorder, the upper limb also assumes a weight bearing function. A significant portion of the body weight can be carried by the upper limbs in assisting to rise from the seated position, turning in bed or in using a walking aid. These two conflicting requirements of mobility and stability as well as its overall versatility makes the assessment of the function, and loading of joint replacements for the upper limb significantly more complicated than those for the lower limb.
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© 1987 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht
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Berme, N. (1987). Biomechanics of the Shoulder and Elbow. In: Bergmann, G., Kölbel, R., Rohlmann, A. (eds) Biomechanics: Basic and Applied Research. Developments in Biomechanics, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3355-2_31
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3355-2_31
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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