When the shoulder is subjected to an injurious mechanism, a cascade of effects results. These effects include tissue pathology and the manifestation of pain. Sensorimotor alterations also manifest, most likely as a result of tissue pathology and pain. The combination of the tissue pathology, pain, and sensorimotor alterations all directly affect outcome following injury, and thus need to be addressed by the clinician treating the shoulder injury to fully restore function. This article discusses how the sensorimotor system contributes to shoulder function and how it is altered with shoulder injury, thereby affecting outcome.