The shoulder joint is the most frequently dislocated joint of the body. Because it moves in several directions, your shoulder can dislocate forward, backward or downward, completely or partially, though most dislocations occur through the front of the shoulder. In addition, fibrous tissue that joins the bones of your shoulder can be stretched or torn, often complicating the dislocation.

It takes a strong force, such as a sudden blow to your shoulder, to pull the bones out of place. Extreme rotation of your shoulder joint can pop the ball of your upper arm bone out of your shoulder socket. Partial dislocation — in which your upper arm bone is partially in and partially out of your shoulder socket — also may occur.

A dislocated shoulder may be caused by:

• Sports injuries. Shoulder dislocation is a common injury in contact sports, such as football and hockey, and in sports that may involve falls, such as downhill skiing, gymnastics and volleyball.
• Trauma not related to sports. A hard blow to your shoulder during a motor vehicle accident is a common source of dislocation.
• Falls. You may dislocate your shoulder during a fall, such as from a ladder or from tripping on a loose rug.

Risk factors

Males in their teens or 20s, a group that tends to be physically active, are at highest risk of shoulder dislocation.

The Bankart procedure is performed to increase anterior stability of the shoulder. The following is a guideline for progression of post-operative treatment. The surgery usually requires 3-6 months for full recovery.. There may be a loss of external rotation when compared to the other side, but the motion is usually adequate for most activities. - The repair becomes stressed with external rotation. If procedure is performed arthroscopically strengthening of the rotator cuff muscles can begin early and progress quickly. If procedure is performed as an “Open Repair”, the subscapularis may be detached for exposure of the glenohumeral joint and then reattached after the repair is complete. This reattachment must be protected for 6 weeks. During this time, strengthening activities involving internal rotation must be avoided.

General information

General Information

forward elevation

external rotation

for therapists