May 24, 2018 | Take a minute to lift your arms and stretch your shoulders. That joint you just used is made up of three bones, the collarbone, the shoulder blade and the upper arm bone. The top of your upper arm bone is shaped like a ball. This ball fits into a cuplike socket in your shoulder blade. A shoulder dislocation is an injury that happens when the ball pops out of your socket. A dislocation may be partial, where the ball is only partially out of the socket. This condition is known as a subluxation. It can also be a full dislocation, where the ball is completely out of the socket. Both partial and complete dislocations can cause pain and unsteadiness in the shoulder. If you suspect that you have a dislocated shoulder, you should seek prompt medical attention. Most people regain full shoulder function within a few weeks. However, once you’ve had a dislocated shoulder, your joint may become unstable and will likely be prone to repeated dislocations.

May 24, 2018 | The shoulder joint is the most frequently dislocated joint of the body. Because it moves in several directions, your shoulder can dislocate forward, backward or downward, completely or partially, though most dislocations occur through the front of the shoulder. In addition, fibrous tissue that joins the bones of your shoulder can be stretched or torn, often complicating the dislocation. It takes a strong force, such as a sudden blow to your shoulder, to pull the bones out of place. Extreme rotation of your shoulder joint can pop the ball of your upper arm bone out of your shoulder socket. Shoulder dislocation is a common injury in contact sports, such as football and hockey, and in sports that may involve falls, such as downhill skiing. It can also occur in trauma not related to sports. A hard blow to your shoulder during a motor vehicle accident is a common source of dislocation. You can also dislocate your shoulder during a fall, such as from a ladder or from tripping on a loose rug.

May 24, 2018 | Males in their teens or 20s, a group that tends to be physically active, are at the highest risk for shoulder dislocation. Elderly people, especially women, are also considered a high risk because they are more likely to fall. But what are the signs you should look for in a possible dislocation? First, the shoulder may look visibly deformed or out of place. Abnormal swelling or bruising is another sign. Intense pain that can’t be explained or an inability to move the joint is another possible symptom. Shoulder dislocation may also cause numbness, weakness or tingling near the injury, such as in your neck or down your arm. The muscles in your shoulder may spasm from the disruption, often increasing the intensity of your pain. If you are having these symptoms, get medical treatment right away. If you stretch or tear ligaments or tendons in your shoulder or damage nerves or blood vessels around your shoulder joint, you may need surgery to repair these tissues.

May 24, 2018 | If your doctor suspects you have a shoulder dislocation, the first step is to get a medical history and examine your shoulder. Your doctor may also ask you to get an X-ray to confirm the diagnosis. Treating a dislocated shoulder usually involves three steps. The first step is a closed reduction, a procedure in which your health care provider puts the ball of your upper arm back into the socket. You may first get medicine to relieve the pain and relax your shoulder muscles. Once the joint is back in place, the severe pain should end. The second step is wearing a sling or other device to keep your shoulder in place. You will wear it for a few days to several weeks. The third step is rehabilitation, once the pain and swelling have improved. You will have to do exercises to improve your range of motion and strengthen your muscles. You may need surgery if you injure the tissues or nerves around the shoulder or if you get repeated dislocations.

May 24, 2018 | A dislocation can make your shoulder unstable. When that happens, it takes less force to dislocate it. This means that there is a higher risk of it happening again. Your doctor may ask you to do certain exercises to prevent another dislocation. These help restore the shoulder’s range of motion and strengthen the muscles. Rehabilitation will begin with gentle muscle toning exercises. Later, weight training can be added. If dislocation becomes a recurrent problem, a brace can sometimes help. However, if therapy and bracing fail, surgery may be needed to repair or tighten the torn or stretched ligaments that help hold the joint in place, particularly in young athletes. If your surgeon identifies some bone damage, he or she may recommend a bone transfer type of surgery. Be sure to follow your doctor’s treatment plan. Although it is a slow process, your commitment to physical therapy is the most important factor in returning to all the activities you enjoy.