Shoulder instability

(shoulder dislocation and dislocated shoulder joint).

In shoulder dislocation (dislocation) caused by an accident, the ball of the upper arm jumps out of the socket. By immobilising the shoulder after a dislocation, the shoulder is still not stable due to post-traumatic instability. Every injury to the shoulder leaves damage to ligaments, bones and cartilage, which should be treated sooner or later. A medical assessment is therefore recommended.

Dislocated shoulder joint? Instability? Accident-related or chronic complaints?

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Shoulder instability

Unstable shoulders can have two causes. Either it is caused by an accident or by congenital (habitual) instability.

Accident-related instability occurs when the arm is dislocated (luxated). This form of instability often occurs during overhead work and contact sports (football, rugby, soccer, handball) or sports with a high frequency of falls (skiing).

In the event of an accident or fall on the (outstretched) arm or a blow to the shoulder, the joint lip (labrum), joint ligaments and capsule may be torn or there may also be a fracture of the socket or humeral head. The affected patients feel as if the shoulder is jumping out.

In congenital instability, the shoulder jumps out of the joint even without much force, because the entire supporting tissue of the body is too weak, so that the head of humerus has too much play (capsular ligament weakness) in all directions.