Shoulder dislocation or glenohumeral dislocation occurs when the head of the humerus (upper arm bone) slips out of the socket of the scapula (glenohumeral socket). It is the most dislocable joint in the body due to its wide range of motion.
This is a very painful injury which occurs, in most cases, when the arm is in forced abduction and external rotationThrowing, overhead catching, and contact sports are where it occurs most often.
There are several types of dislocations:
- Anterior: The most common (95%). The head of the humerus moves forward. If it is anteroinferior, it is usually associated with a tear of the glenoid labrum (ring of fibrocartilage surrounding the glenoid).
- Posterior: Less common (5%). The head is displaced backwards.
- Inferior: Rare (Less than 1%). The humeral head is displaced downward.
- Multidirectional: Unstable (Less than 1%). The humerus can dislocate in several directions.
In the face of this type of injury, the first step is to reduce dislocation (reposition the humeral head within the glenoid cavity) with the aim of reduce pain and prevent associated complications such as damaging nerves, blood vessels or the labum.
From there there are two ways (conservative/physiotherapy or surgical). This will depend on factors such as: severity of injury, age, the activity that the patient/athlete performs or wants to perform and whether there have been other dislocations previously. In both cases, the patient will wear a sling whose purpose is to reduce pain and protect the shoulder from bearing weight and sudden movements.
In Evolution Physiotherapy Clinic We work in both situations, respecting the biological recovery times of the tissue while recovering the functionality of the shoulder joint complex.
He main objective of physiotherapy In this type of injury it will consist of recovering the mobility, strength and stability of the different joints and tissues involved, as well as reincorporate the patient into his/her daily activity or sports practice gradually and progressively, reducing the risk of recurrence.
If you suffer from a glenohumeral dislocation and need to be treated, come to our center located in Alcalá de Henares and our health professionals will guide you through the process.
