Symptoms
With a dislocated shoulder there is no uncertainty- all my patients have said they felt their shoulder bones shift in their socket. It’s a distinct feeling, and it’s more than just hearing a pop in your shoulder. Some dislocations will go back in place “on their own” with just a contraction of your muscles. And some need an external force like a doctor, or a slam against the doorframe like Mel Gibson does in lethal weapon (don’t try this at home). Various levels of damage can occur depending on how severe the dislocation is. A dislocation often happens because of a fall on an outstretched arm, an injury in a wrestling match, or from a repetitive forceful motion like throwing. After one dislocation, you are at risk for more – which require less force perhaps than the first thing that caused the dislocation.
Treatment
When the arm bone comes out of the ball and socket joint at your shoulder it can stretch ligaments, tear tendons, and even fracture bones. Often times you’ll have an XRAY and an MRI to assess the damage. Not everyone that dislocates their shoulder need surgery. After your doctor has cleared you of any major damage, then you must improve the stability of the shoulder joint to prevent a future dislocation. This program will show you the best stabilization exercises for the maximum chance at recovery conservatively. It’s great for people that have had a dislocation, or several, or whose doctor said PT could help, and for people that do things that put them at risk for dislocations (ie: wrestling, throwing, overhead work, high fall risk). For maximum benefit you’ll want to dedicate yourself 3 times/week for at least 2 months to work on the exercises.