Shoulders are crucial joints and help in everyday activities. But shoulder problems can hamper our daily activities. Shoulder instability is the second most common problem after Rotator cuff tear. A patient suffering from shoulder instability may face difficulty in lifting the arm, throwing an object or even putting on clothes. So let’s discuss more shoulder instability and the problems associated with it.
Know more about the shoulder anatomy
The shoulder joint can be categorized as a ball and socket joint. It consists of the labrum (a type of fibrocartilage tissue) which supports in forming a suction cup for the humerus (arm bone), thus leading to stability and improved mobility of the joint. Ligaments bind the arm bone to the cup providing static stability. Rotator cuff and the muscles functioning to stabilize the Scapula and the arm bone on the scapula/cup facilitates in dynamic stability of the joint.
What does shoulder instability mean and what are its associated problems?
It is a condition wherein the structures near the shoulder joint don’t function properly and hold the ball of the joint firmly with the socket. When the joint is loose, then this condition is known as subluxation and if the joint comes out entirely from the place, then this medical condition is known as shoulder dislocation and it is an advanced stage of shoulder instability.
Another problem attached to shoulder instability is Superior Labrum anterior-posterior lesion which can be abbreviated as SLAP lesion. It develops in a situation when the arm is compellingly moved in a direction that it tears the biceps tendons and Labrum cartilage from the socket in an anterior-posterior direction.
A tear on the anterior-inferior or posterior-inferior portion of the Labrum along with an anterior or posterior dislocation can lead to the development of Bankart lesion or reverse bankart lesion. It is usually observed in recurrent dislocation.
Patients who suffer from such medical problem often complain about the sensation of discomfort and shifting of the joint from its destined location. These feelings are termed as apprehension by medical experts.
Causes of shoulder instability
People who have suffered from shoulder dislocation are at a higher risk of developing chronic instability. If their ligaments get torn or heal too slackly, then it may lead to recurrent dislocation.
People who are involved in repetitive overhead activities along with some inhehert dysfunction of the tissues and muscle coordination may face the problem of multidirectional shoulder instability (abbreviated as MDI) or loosening of the joint.
Most of the athletes such as swimmers, basketball players, baseball/cricket pitchers, volleyball players, etc. overstretch their arms while playing and hence are at a higher risk of developing chronic shoulder instability. Moreover, people involved in professions like painting are also prone to this shoulder problem.
Usually, people with any connective tissue disorder have loose joints. So if the connective tissues present near the shoulder joint are weak or degenerated, then this will lead to a loose shoulder joint and it can cause joint laxity or double-jointedness. Eventually, it can become a cause for shoulder instability.
The treatment approach for healing such problems depend on the severity of the shoulder instability. You should seek medical help for a better clarification. You can contact Dr. Reetadyuti Mukhopadhyay, an experienced shoulder doctor in Gurgaon for help. He will try his best to cure your shoulder problem as soon as possible.