An important factor in joint stabilization is muscle tone, which is exerted by muscles even when there is no movement at that joint.
The joints of the body come in all shapes and sizes. The most important factor to consider here is the relative proportion of the two articulating surfaces.
For example, in the shoulder joint, the humeral head of the upper arm is disproportionately larger than the glenoid fossa of the scapula that it sits in – making the joint more unstable, as there is less contact between the bones.
In contrast, the acetabulum of the pelvis fully encompasses the femoral head, and this makes the hip-joint far more stable. However, whilst the hip is more stable, the shoulder has a greater range of movement. Each joint has this trade-off that is particular to its function.
Ligaments: The ligaments of a joint prevent excessive movement that could damage the joint. As a general rule, the more ligaments a joint has, and the tighter they are, the more stable the joint is.
Tone of Surrounding Muscles: The tone of the surrounding muscles contributes greatly to the stability of a joint. A good example of this is the support provided by the rotator cuff muscles, which keep the head of the humerus in the shallow glenoid cavity of the scapula. If there is a loss of tone, such as in old age or stroke, the shoulder can dislocate.
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