Shoulder Dislocations and Instability

The shoulder joint is extremely flexible, with a high degree of motion in multiple directions. This mobility allows us to position the arm and hand around ourselves and provides much of the function of the upper extremity. Unfortunately, the down-side of this mobility is that the shoulder is inherently much less stable than other major joints in the body. This means that shoulder dislocations are a common injury, especially among young athletes. A dislocation typically occurs when there is an impact to the arm in an overhead position, as can occur during throwing, climbing, or swimming sports. When this occurs, the labrum – a gasket-like cartilage ring that helps stabilize the joint – is often torn, along with the joint capsule.