The shouldera ball-and-socket jointis the most mobile joint in the body.
However, that also means it is easily injured.
This injury typically results from trauma, such as a fall, car accident, or sports injury.
This article discusses shoulder dislocations, including types, causes, diagnosis, and treatment options.
Types of Dislocated Shoulders
Not all dislocated shoulders are the same; there are various types.
Dislocations can also occur in different directions.
Other symptoms of shoulder dislocation can include:
What Causes a Dislocated Shoulder?
In younger adults, shoulder dislocations are more common in males and result from sports-related incidents.
In older adults, females experience more shoulder dislocations, and they are usually from a fall.
Shoulder dislocations also have less common causes, including electrical shock (like lightning strikes) and seizures.
These situations cause abnormal muscle contractions that pull the ball out of the socket.
These structures are not elastic, so they will not return to their original length.
If these muscles are weak, the risk further increases.
How Are Shoulder Dislocations Diagnosed?
Only a qualified healthcare provider should do this maneuver.
Home remedies can help reduce pain after a shoulder dislocation.
Recurrent dislocations can also cause bone loss at the end of the humerusa condition called a Hill-Sachs lesion.
In these cases, surgery might also include grafting bone to build it back up.
Physical therapy is an important part of the recovery process after surgery for a dislocated shoulder.
Your range of motion and strength should recover within four to six weeks after an uncomplicated shoulder dislocation.
After surgery, physical therapy can last for several months.
However, you’re able to take up to 12 months after injury to feel back to normal.
What Are the Complications of a Dislocated Shoulder?
Shoulder dislocations can lead to further complications.
These can include:
Can You Prevent a Dislocated Shoulder?
Healthcare providers primarily diagnose this injury using X-rays.
In severe cases, you may need surgery.
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