| Dislocations of the shoulder joint are common in sports | | | | (part of the scapula or shoulder blade) which acts to |
| involving contact elements such as Rugby and | | | | increase the congruency of the joint by effectively |
| American football. They also occur frequently from | | | | deepening the socket. Damage to other soft tissues |
| falls, usually onto an outstretched arm. The most | | | | such as rotator cuff tendons, nerves and blood |
| common position for a shoulder dislocation is with the | | | | vessels are also common. |
| arm out to the side and rotated outwards. This results | | | | For this reason it is important that a dislocated shoulder |
| in the most common form of shoulder dislocations, an | | | | is never put back in place by someone who is not |
| anterior dislocation, which make up to 95% of all | | | | trained to do so. Usually, an X-ray or MRI will be taken |
| dislocations. This is where the head of the humerus | | | | before the shoulder is reduced to check for any |
| (top of the arm bone) moves forwards of the shoulder | | | | associated damage. After this, depending on the |
| joint. Dislocations can also be posterior, inferior, superior | | | | direction of dislocation, a manoeuvre will be performed |
| or intra-throacic. | | | | to allow the humerus to move back into position. The |
| The reason shoulder dislocations are so common is | | | | arm will then be immobilised in a sling for a week or |
| the level of mobility and hence instability, of the | | | | more. |
| shoulder joint as a whole. The shoulder has the largest | | | | After a dislocation the chances of the same shoulder |
| range of motion of any joint in the body, but the | | | | dislocating again are higher. This is due to laxity in the |
| congruency of the articulating bones (humerus and | | | | joint capsule and ligaments surrounding the joint after |
| scapula) is very poor. The joint therefore relies on the | | | | they were stretched during the first injury. Any |
| support of the surrounding soft tissues - the joint | | | | associated injuries also make repeat dislocations more |
| capsule, labrum, ligaments and muscles. | | | | likely. |
| Shoulder dislocations are often considered to be fairly | | | | In order to prevent recurrent dislocations, a period of |
| minor injuries, however the damage that can be | | | | extensive rehabilitation is required. This should aim to |
| associated with a dislocation can be very severe. The | | | | strengthen the muscles surrounding the shoulder joint, |
| most common damage is to the glenoid labrum. This is | | | | improve proprioception (the sense of the joints |
| a ring of cartilage surrounding the socket of the joint | | | | position), and restore full range of motion. |