Will I Ever Be Able to Return to Sports After a Shoulder Dislocation?: Performance Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine: Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeons (2024)

FAQs

Will I Ever Be Able to Return to Sports After a Shoulder Dislocation?: Performance Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine: Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeons? ›

Dr. Humpherys may recommend surgical repair for significant damage. After your dislocated shoulder is repaired, physical therapy stretches and exercises help to safely restore strength, flexibility, and range of motion. Returning to your sport depends on regaining your full strength and range of motion.

Most athletes who dislocate their shoulders can return to sports after their joint has had time to heal. Most treatments involve nonsurgical therapies like rest and the use of a sling, physical therapy to improve range of motion and strength, and the use of a brace as recovery progresses.

Most people make a full recovery after dislocating their shoulder. Even if you need surgery, you should be able to return to most or all your activities and sports after your shoulder has healed.

Shoulder dislocations aren't game-ending, but they can be game-changing. Once you've dislocated your shoulder once, it's often difficult to regain pre-injury levels of strength and flexibility, especially if your injury is severe. In many cases, your shoulder is also vulnerable to repeat dislocations in the future.

The shoulder is the body's most flexible joint, which makes it more likely to dislocate. If you suspect a dislocated shoulder, seek prompt medical attention. Most people regain full use of their shoulder within a few weeks. However, once a shoulder dislocates, the joint might be prone to repeat dislocations.

If your dislocation is fairly simple, your shoulder joint will improve over a few weeks. After surgery, you'll wear a sling for about six weeks, gradually working on range of motion and strength. Full recovery may take five to six months.

After 6 weeks of therapy and rehabilitation, the affected arm can typically be used fairly normally, with the exception of avoiding forceful movements above the head or across the body, and weight-bearing activities, such as heavy lifting or push-ups.

Surgery might help those with weak shoulder joints or ligaments who have repeated shoulder dislocations despite strengthening and rehabilitation. In rare cases, damaged nerves or blood vessels might require surgery. Surgical treatment might also reduce the risk of re-injury in young athletes.

If you suspect you have dislocated your shoulder, it's important to seek emergency medical attention within 24 hours, because waiting too long can make it more difficult to pop the joint back in place.

We report on one such patient who had a chronic shoulder dislocation for more than 2 years without receiving treatment. Shoulder dislocation is relatively rare, but it is the most common joint to dislocate in the body and is frequently encountered by orthopedists in an emergency setting.

At what age does shoulder dislocation recur? ›

Younger age at initial injury increases the likelihood for future dislocation. The recurrence rate is thought to be 90% if the initial episode occurs in the teen years. In patients aged 40 years or older, the recurrence rate is 10-15%. Most redislocations occur within 2 years of the primary injury.

Many shoulder pain sufferers qualify for Social Security disability because they have a “major dysfunction of a joint.” In order to qualify pursuant to this Blue Book listing, a claimant must show that he has one of the following conditions: Partial shoulder dislocation. Partial or full fusing of the shoulder joints.

Most football players who dislocate their shoulder for the first time can usually return to play within six weeks of the injury once they reestablish full range of shoulder motion and strength. They must be able to perform all of the actions necessitated by their position prior to return to play.

Dislocated shoulders need to be treated right away. Your doctor will need to move the arm bone back into the shoulder socket. Since the joint will get more swollen and more painful by the minute, the sooner the better.

Unfortunately, once a dislocation has occurred, the chance of it happening again is quite high. Most studies report a recurrent dislocation rate of approximately 75% for age 12-20, 50% for the 20s, and 25% over 30. For patients who participate in contact sports, those numbers are even higher.

If the muscles and tendons that support the shoulder can be made to work more efficiently, the joint will have greater stability. Some researchers have reported a success rate as high as 80 percent in this subset of patients.

Don't repeat the specific action that caused the shoulder to dislocate. Try to avoid painful movements. Limit heavy lifting or overhead activity until the shoulder feels better.

You can stop wearing the sling after a few days, but it takes about 12 to 16 weeks to completely recover from a dislocated shoulder. You'll usually be able to resume most activities within two weeks. You should avoid heavy lifting and sports involving shoulder movements for between six weeks and three months.

After a shoulder dislocation, avoid exercises that put extra stress on your healing shoulder joint. This means steering clear of movements that add weight or pressure when your arm is raised overhead. Listen to your body and avoid any exercise that causes pain.

Doctors recommend using a sling or brace to immobilize the affected arm and shoulder for four to six weeks to allow the muscles and other soft tissues to rest and heal. During the first 2 days, applying an ice pack to the shoulder 3 times a day for 15 to 20 minutes may reduce swelling and ease pain.