Ligaments connect the bones of the shoulder, and tendons join the bones to surrounding muscles. The biceps tendon attaches the biceps muscle to the shoulder and helps to stabilize the joint.

Four short muscles originate on the scapula and pass around the shoulder where their tendons fuse together to form the rotator cuff.
All of these components of your shoulder, along with the muscles of your upper body, work together to manage the stress your shoulder receives as you extend, flex, lift and throw.

The unique positioning and interaction of the bones in the joint allows for a small amount of rotation as well as hinge action. This rotation is easily noticed during activities such as hand-to-mouth eating motions.

The primary stability of the elbow is provided by the ulnar collateral ligament, on the medial (inner) side of the elbow.

However, one of the most common injuries to the elbow occurs on the lateral, or outer, side of the elbow – it is called Lateral Epicondylitis, or Tennis Elbow.

Beneath the true ankle joint is the second part of the ankle, the subtalar joint, which consists of the talus on top and calcaneus on the bottom. The subtalar joint allows side to side motion of the foot.

The ends of the bones in these joints are covered by articular cartilage (1). The major ligaments of the ankle are: the anterior tibiofibular ligament (2), which connects the tibia to the fibula; the lateral collateral ligaments (3), which attach the fibula to the calcaneus and gives the ankle lateral stability; and, on the medial side of the ankle, the deltoid ligaments (4), which connect the tibia to the talus and calcaneus and provide medial stability.

These components of your ankle, along with the muscles and tendons of your lower leg, work together to handle the stress your ankle receives as you walk, run and jump.

An individual vertebra is made up of several parts. The body of the vertebra is the primary area of weight bearing and provides a resting place for the fibrous discs which separate each of the vertebrae. The lamina covers the spinal canal, the large hole in the center of the vertebra through which the spinal nerves pass. The spinous process is the bone you can feel when running your hands down your back. The paired transverse processes are oriented 90 degrees to the spinous process and provide attachment for back muscles.

There are four facet joints associated with each vertebra.

A pair that face upward and another pair that face downward.

These interlock with the adjacent vertebrae and provide stability to the spine.

The vertebrae are separated by intervertebral discs which act as cushions between the bones.

Each disc is made up of two parts. The hard, tough outer layer called the annulus surrounds a mushy, moist center termed the nucleus. When a disc herniates or ruptures, the soft nucleus spurts out through a tear in the annulus, and can compress a nerve root. The nucleus can squirt out on either side of the disc or in some cases both sides.

The amount of pain associated with a disc rupture often depends upon the amount of nucleus that breaks through the annulus, and whether it compresses a nerve. To help alleviate the pain, a Laminotomy/Microdiscectomy may be performed.

Therapy for Back Pain

North Valley Orthopedic Institute has Physical Therapy Facilities in our Encino and Mission Hills offices. Our therapists work closely with your physician in order to return you to full function and pain free activity as soon as possible.

The Median and Ulnar nerves are the major nerves of the hand, running the length of the arm to transmit electrical impulses to and from the brain to create movement and sensation.

The head of the femur and the socket are covered with a layer of smooth cartilage which cushions the joint, and allows the bones to move on each other with very little friction.

Ligaments help to stabilize the knee. The collateral ligaments run along the sides of the knee and limit sideways motion. The anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, connects the tibia to the femur at the center of the knee. Its function is to limit rotation and forward motion of the tibia. (A damaged ACL is replaced in a procedure known as an ACL Reconstruction.) The posterior cruciate ligament, or PCL (located just behind the ACL) limits backward motion of the tibia.

These components of your knee, along with the muscles of your leg, work together to manage the stress your knee receives as you walk, run and jump.

Dr.  Ganjianpour offers skills and expertise in areas such as minimally invasive procedures that use the latest technology for joint replacement of hip, knee and shoulder as well as arthroscopy (camera assisted surgery) for knee and shoulder problems.  Minimally invasive procedures can lead to shortened hospital stays and quicker recovery time.

PTs diagnose and establish a management plan, and when necessary, incorporate the results of laboratory and imaging studies. Treatment often includes exercise for patients who have been immobilized or who lack flexibility, strength, or endurance. Physical therapy is performed by either a physical therapist (PT) or an assistant (PTA) acting under their direction.

The goal of our PTs is to restore, maintain, and promote overall fitness and health. Physical therapists help patients with pain management. Amongst other areas, our PTs are trained and have extensive experience in orthopedic surgery. Our PTs help patients cope and improve disabling conditions such as low-back pain, arthritis, fractures, and post operative rehabilitation. The goal is to improve how an individual functions at work and at home, thus, improve the overall lives of our patients.