Overview
Shoulder dislocations happen when the bones in your shoulder joint are pushed or knocked out of their usual places.
A joint is any place in your body where two bones meet. They’re part of your skeletal system. Your shoulder joint is where the round ball at the top of your upper arm bone (humerus) fits into the socket (glenoid) of your shoulder blade (scapula).
A shoulder dislocation is an injury that happens when the ball and socket connection between your bones is separated. It can also damage the tissue around your shoulder joint, including your:
- Muscles.
- Nerves.
- Tendons.
- Ligaments.
- Blood vessels.
Go to the emergency room if you experience a dislocation or can’t move your shoulder. Never try to force your shoulder back into place on your own.
Types of dislocated shoulders
Healthcare providers classify dislocations depending on how far the bones in your joints were moved:
- Complete dislocations (luxation): A complete dislocation happens when the bones in your joint are totally separated and pushed out of place.
- Subluxation: A subluxation is the medical term for a partial dislocation. You have a subluxation if something pulls your joint apart and the bones still touch, just not as completely as usual.
How common are dislocated shoulders?
Shoulders are the most commonly dislocated joint. But they’re still a relatively rare injury — only around 10 per 100,000 people in the U.S. dislocate a shoulder each year.
Symptoms
When to see a doctor
Complications
- High blood pressure.
- Diabetes.
- Heart failure.
- Some types of heart valve disease.
Prevention
- Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
- Don't smoke or use tobacco.
- Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
- Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Reduce and manage stress.
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