Shoulder

At Southern California Orthopedic Institute (SCOI), our shoulder specialists provide comprehensive care from early diagnosis through advanced surgical treatment and rehabilitation. Whether your symptoms stem from a sports injury, repetitive overhead use, or joint degeneration, our team delivers personalized treatment designed to relieve pain, restore function, and support long-term shoulder health.

The shoulder’s wide range of motion allows for athletic performance and daily function, but it also makes the joint more vulnerable to injury and instability. At SCOI, care is fully integrated, allowing patients to move seamlessly from diagnosis to a personalized treatment plan led by a shoulder specialist. From the first visit, your doctor focuses on understanding your goals, whether returning to sport or relieving arthritis pain, and building a strategy to restore strength, stability, and confidence.

Experience Excellence in Shoulder Care

At SCOI, shoulder care combines physician expertise, advanced technology, and a team-based approach to deliver consistently strong outcomes. This coordinated approach allows patients to move from diagnosis to recovery with fewer delays and better outcomes.

Physician Expertise

SCOI’s shoulder doctors are fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine specialists with focused expertise in shoulder injuries and conditions. Many are nationally recognized leaders who treat high-level athletes, active adults, and patients with complex degenerative diseases. This depth of experience allows each specialist to match the right treatment to the right patient, never a one-size-fits-all approach.

Advanced Diagnostics and Technology

Accurate diagnosis is the foundation of effective shoulder care. SCOI offers on-site MRI, CT imaging, and digital X-rays to identify the exact cause of shoulder pain, whether it involves the rotator cuff, labrum, cartilage, or joint surfaces. For surgical patients, advanced planning tools and minimally invasive techniques support precision, safety, and predictable outcomes.

Integrated Orthopedic Care

Shoulder problems often involve more than one structure and sometimes more than one specialty. SCOI brings together shoulder surgeons, sports medicine physicians, radiologists, physical therapists, and pain management specialists as one coordinated team under one roof. This integrated model allows patients to receive continuous care from diagnosis through rehabilitation without unnecessary delays or handoffs.

Individualized Treatment Plans

No two shoulders—and no two patients—are the same. Treatment plans are tailored based on diagnosis, severity, activity demands, and long-term goals. Conservative care is prioritized when appropriate, and surgical options are recommended only when they offer the best path to lasting improvement.

When To See a Shoulder Doctor

Schedule an evaluation with a shoulder specialist if symptoms persist, worsen, or interfere with daily activities, work, or sports. Early assessment often prevents minor issues from progressing into more complex injuries.

Common reasons to seek care include:

• Persistent shoulder or upper arm pain
• Night pain that disrupts sleep
• Pain with reaching, lifting, or overhead movement
• Painful clicking, catching, or locking
• Weakness or loss of shoulder strength
• Shoulder instability, slipping, or dislocations
• Pain following trauma or injury
• Sports-related shoulder injuries
• Shoulder fractures

Early evaluation not only relieves pain sooner but can also prevent more serious shoulder conditions from developing. A professional evaluation includes a physical exam, review of medical history, and imaging when appropriate. From there, your shoulder doctor will guide you through the most effective next steps.

Shoulder Conditions We Treat

SCOI treats a full spectrum of shoulder injuries and conditions, including:

• Shoulder arthritis and osteoarthritis
• Rotator cuff tears and degeneration
• Shoulder impingement
• Labral injuries (including SLAP tears)
• Shoulder instability and recurrent dislocations
• AC joint injuries and separations
• Biceps tendon tears or ruptures
• Shoulder bursitis
• Tendonitis and overuse injuries
• Clavicle injuries
• Shoulder fractures
• Osteophytes (bone spurs)
• Strains and ligament injuries
• Referred pain from cervical spine conditions

This comprehensive scope allows patients to remain within one system, even as their needs change over time.

Shoulder Treatment Options

Nonsurgical Treatments

When appropriate, conservative care is the first line of treatment and may include:

• Physical therapy to restore strength, mobility, and mechanics through SCOI’s integrated rehabilitation programs
• Anti-inflammatory medications and pain relievers
• Corticosteroid or biologic injections (such as PRP)
• Activity modification and targeted rehabilitation programs

Surgical Treatments

When surgery is needed, SCOI offers advanced shoulder procedures, including:

• Shoulder arthroscopy for minimally invasive repair
• Rotator cuff repair
• Labral repair and stabilization procedures
• Shoulder instability surgery
• Total shoulder replacement
• Reverse shoulder replacement for complex cases
• Fracture fixation and reconstruction

High surgical volume, specialized training, and coordinated rehabilitation support strong outcomes and safe recovery for each of our patients. All procedures are performed by fellowship-trained shoulder surgeons using techniques designed to minimize recovery time and optimize long-term outcomes.

Highly Trained Shoulder Doctors, 9 Convenient SoCal Locations

SCOI’s shoulder specialists bring advanced training and deep experience to every patient. We provide in-house imaging, diagnostics, physical therapy, interventional pain management, and surgical care, streamlining treatment from evaluation to recovery. With locations across Southern California, expert shoulder care is always within reach.

Shoulder pain holding you back? Schedule an appointment with a SCOI shoulder doctor today and take the first step toward lasting relief and restored function.