To read more about VOA's medical staff, please click on a physician or provider below.

		Craig T. Arntz, M.D. Shoulder and Hand				Susan R. Cero, M.D. General Orthopedics
		John M. Hendrickson, M.D. General Orthopedics				Fredrick S. Huang, M.D. General Orthopedics
		Martin S. Tullus, M.D. General Orthopedics				Niket Shrivastava, M.D. Hand & Upper Extremity Surgery

Our shoulders and elbows are used throughout the day – whether at work, through exercise, or even just lifting bags of groceries. Athletes and people in certain professions may use more vigorous or recurring motions on a frequent basis. Injuries to your wrist, hand or arm can cause a loss of sensation and movement, chronic pain, and impaired ability. Any of these can seriously inhibit daily activity. At VOA, we are prepared to handle athletic, repetitive, degenerative, and traumatic hand and upper extremity disorders and injuries.

• Rotator Cuff Tears: Muscles and tendons surrounding the top part of the upper arm bone make up the rotator cuff. These muscles and tendons hold the rotator cuff in the shoulder joint. Repetitive motion or injury may cause a painful tear of the rotator cuff. Symptoms include consistent pain especially when the arm is over the head, cracking sounds when the arm is moved and limited motion.
• Arthritis: This disease affects the joints in the body including those in the hands, elbow, arm and shoulder. Osteoarthritis is the most common degenerative joint disease, caused when the cartilage between joints wears out and bone rubs against bone. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common inflammatory arthritis typically affecting the joints in the fingers, wrists, arms and legs.
• Tennis Elbow: A degenerative condition of the tendon fibers attached to the bony "outer" portion of the elbow. The tendons affected fasten the muscles that allow you to extend or lift the wrist and hand. Repetitive and rigorous use of the forearm muscles, such as playing tennis, may result in deterioration of the involved tendons. The result is often a severe, burning pain in the outside part of the elbow.
• Biceps Tendinitis: The biceps muscle in the front upper arm stabilizes the upper arm bone in the shoulder socket. Tendons connect the biceps muscle to the shoulder, as well as to the bone in the lower arm. The biceps controls arm movements over your head, such as swinging a tennis racket or throwing a ball. Tendinitis occurs when tendons become irritated or inflamed. Injury to the biceps tendons are typically caused by repetitive motion. The result is often pain when the arm is over the head or bent, or a snapping sound in the shoulder area.

If you are experiencing a problem in your shoulder, arm or elbow, talk with your primary care physician about a referral to Valley Orthopedic Associates or call VOA at 425-656-5060.