Examination of her shoulder revealed that the ligaments and tendons were torn and lax. She was given reconstructive therapy to the ligaments and tendons in the arm and the shoulder and this produced dramatic increased strength. Her main side affect was less pain. She gave Dr. Faber, a picture of the cement blocks she carried when building a new home. In acute injuries the ligaments and tendons become tom.
Ligaments function to limit the range of motion that bones can move between each other.
Tendons function to attach a muscle to bone in order to provide motion. Discs and cartilage serve to absorb shock and keep the bones from rubbing against one another. If the ligaments become torn or over-stretched the joint becomes unstable and resultant friction causes the discs or cartilage to become worn down causing a loss of height. The disc and cartilage may also become worn down by repeated motion. This loss of height causes further ligament laxity and thus more instability.