Shoulder Instability
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What is Shoulder Instability?
The shoulder has a very shallow ball and socket joint. Because the shoulder joint is shallow, a normal shoulder will have a lot of mobility (think of all the different ways one can move their arm), however, issues can occur when the shoulder has too much mobility. Shoulder instability occurs when the ball moves around too easily in the socket.
To get a better idea of the shoulder’s structure, watch this video on the anatomy of the shoulder.
What Causes Shoulder Instability?
Shoulder instability may result from a variety of different things. It can often follow an injury that causes the shoulder to dislocate. When the shoulder dislocates, the head of the humerus (the “ball”) is forced out of the glenoid (the “socket”).
This is a traumatic injury that typically results in immediate medical attention to have the shoulder reduced, or when the ball is manually put back into the socket by a physician.
Shoulder Anatomy
While the shoulder then appears to be normal, it may, in fact, continue to be unstable due to possible damages to the ligaments that help to hold the ball into the socket. When the ligaments become stretched or even torn, they become too loose, causing the shoulder to become unstable.
Dr. Kamal Bohsali states “When the shoulder comes out of joint, this is known as a dislocation. Dislocations can happen more than once, even if put back into place by a physician. If you have had more than one dislocation, you may injure important structures in the shoulder such as the labrum and/or the rotator cuff. Sometimes these injuries can be treated without surgery such as physical therapy. If you are young and active, the risk for another dislocation is high. We would recommend that you see one of our orthopaedic surgeons for a consult if you have this issue and it is affecting your ability to remain active.” Dr. Bohsali is the chairman for the department of surgery at Baptist Medical Center Beaches, Diplomate for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and he practices at the JOI Beaches Clinic.
Image of the Shoulder Glenoid Labrum
Shoulder instability can also follow an injury to the shoulder that is less severe. When people do repetitive motions with the shoulder, the shoulder can become stretched out creating a “looseness” in the shoulder. If this occurs and the muscles that surround the shoulder become weak, the ball begins to move around too much in the socket causing irritation and pain. This is commonly seen in overhead athletes like baseball pitchers, volleyball players, and swimmers.
Some people are genetically “loose-jointed” and have ligaments that stretch too easily making it difficult for the ligaments to hold the shoulder joint in place. People with this type of shoulder instability might not have a problem with day to day activities but will begin to have difficulty with repetitive or overuse activities.
What does Shoulder Instability feel like?
Most people with shoulder instability will describe a sensation of shifting in the shoulder joint. They might complain that the shoulder feels as if it comes partially in and out of place (also known as subluxation). Some people will complain of pain at rest or with certain activities and might start avoiding activities that cause pain.
Image of a patient in therapy
How can JOI help?
An orthopedic physician can typically diagnose shoulder instability through a patient’s medical history and physical exam. Sometimes diagnostic imaging such as X-rays or MRIs are used to determine the severity of the shoulder instability.
Based on the findings, the physician will determine whether conservative or surgical management is best. Conservative treatment may include immobilization in a sling, medication or injection to reduce pain and physical therapy.
What if Conservative Treatment Doesn’t Work?
In some cases, surgery is required to repair the structures of the shoulder to make it more stable. Whether the physician treats shoulder instability conservatively or surgical, most patients are referred to physical therapy.
The physical therapist will initially work on reducing pain; they may use modalities such as ice and electrical stimulation to help accomplish this. Once the pain has decreased, the focus will be on strengthening the muscles that surround to shoulder that help to stabilize the ball in the socket.
By retraining these muscles of the shoulder, the shoulder will move more smoothly, be less painful and have improved stability and return to desired activities.
Also if you have recently had a shoulder surgery watch our video on How to Properly Put on an UltraSling 4 or Dressing the Upper Body After an Injury or Surgery
To learn more about shoulder injuries and how JOI can help, please go to: SHOULDER PAIN.
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