Shoulder Instability

The shoulder is the most movable joint in your body. It helps you to lift your arm, to rotate it, and to reach up over your head. It is able to turn in many directions. This greater range of motion, however, can cause instability. Shoulder instability occurs when the head of the upper arm bone is forced out of the shoulder socket. This can happen as a result of a sudden injury or from overuse. Once a shoulder has dislocated, it is vulnerable to repeat episodes. When the shoulder is loose and slips out of place repeatedly, it is called chronic shoulder instability.

Common symptoms of chronic shoulder instability include, pain caused by a shoulder injury, repeated shoulder dislocations, repeated instances of the shoulder giving out and persistent sensation of the shoulder feeling loose, slipping in and out of the joint, or just “hanging there”.

Common treatment options for shoulder instability include activity modification, anti-inflammatory medication, and physical therapy.