Shoulder dislocation
Introduction
A dislocated shoulder happens when your upper arm pops out of your shoulder socket.
The shoulder is one of the easiest joints to dislocate because the ball joint of your upper arm sits in a very shallow socket.
This makes the arm extremely mobile and able to move in many directions, but also means it isn't very stable.
In some cases, the surrounding tissues supporting the shoulder joint may also be overstretched or torn.
A dislocated shoulder takes between 12 and 16 weeks to heal after the shoulder has been put back into place.
This page covers:
Have I dislocated my shoulder?
What to do
Treatment
Recovery
Dislocating your shoulder again
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 24 Jan 2017
Introduction
Find out about dislocated shoulder, including how a dislocation occurs, how to tell if your shoulder is dislocated, what to do, plus treatment and recovery.
How a dislocated shoulder occurs
You can dislocate your shoulder if you fall on to your armheavily. Most people dislocate their shoulder while playing a contact sport, such as rugby, or in a sports-related accident. In older people,
Have I dislocated my shoulder?
In most cases of dislocated shoulder, the ball part of the joint pops out in front of the shoulder socket. This is usually obvious because: you won't be able to move your arm and it will be very pa
What to do with a dislocated shoulder
Go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department immediately if you think you've dislocated your shoulder. Don't try to pop your arm back in yourself you could damage the tissues, nerv
How a dislocated shoulder is treated
You'll be assessed and examined when you get to A&E. You'll usually have an X-ray to check whether you've broken any bones and confirm the dislocation. If you have a fracture, you may have furthe
Recovering from a dislocated shoulder
You can usually go home soon after your shoulder is put back in place, but you'll need to rest your arm in a sling for a few days while the pain settles. You'll need to return to hospital for follow-
Dislocating your shoulder again
The chances of dislocating your shoulder again will depend on your age and how well the tissues surrounding the joint healed the first time. It can help if the torn tissues were surgically repaired a
Subscribe
Ask the doctor
Rate this article
Find products