Shoulder Instability
Overview
SymptomsandDiagnosis
Treatments
Treatment
It may take 3 months to heal. The goals of treatment are to ease pain and swelling. This may include:
- Medicine to ease pain and swelling
- A sling to prevent the shoulder from moving as it heals
- Exercises to help with strength, flexibility, and range of motion
Surgery
Some people may need surgery when other methods do not help. Surgery may be done to repair torn or stretched ligaments so they can hold the shoulder joint in place.
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Edits to original content made by Denver Health.
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RESOURCES
Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians http://familydoctor.org
Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons http://orthoinfo.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES
Canadian Orthopaedic Association http://www.coa-aco.org
Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation http://www.canorth.org
References
Chronic shoulder instability. Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00529. Updated December 2013. Accessed December 9, 2019.
Desmeules F, Barry J, et al. Surgical interventions for post-traumatic anterior shoulder instability in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2014;(5):CD011092.
Nassiri N, Eliasberg C, et al. Shoulder instability in the overhead athlete: A systematic review comparing arthroscopic and open stabilization procedures. 2015;3(2):suppl2325967115S00154.
Owens BD, Campbell SE, et al. Risk factors for anterior glenohumeral instability. Am J Sports Med. 2014;42(11):2591-2596.
Recurrent subluxation of shoulder. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/recurrent-subluxation-of-shoulder . Updated August 21, 2014. Accessed December 9, 2019.
Woodward TW, Best TM. The painful shoulder: part I. Clinical evaluation. Am Fam Physician. 2000 May 15;61(10):3079-3088.