Dislocated Shoulder

A few years ago my boyfriend dislocated his shoulder whilst we were on a skiing holiday.  We haven't been again since but we are both hankering to get back out there on the slopes, however the experience is not one we are keen to replicate.  Once a shoulder has been dislocated is it always going to be weaker and therefore more likely to dislocate or is there anything that can be done to prevent the injury happening again?

Comments

  • So far as I understand it, it will always be weaker.  Strengthening the muscles around the joint will help to stabilise it (good long term) as will strapping it up (good short term, bad long term).

    Has he spoken to a physio about it?  Might be worth it to get some advise.

  • agree with drunken above ... i'm probably a really bad example but i had a repeat offender of a shoulder ended up in operation mode which didn't work ... what did work was lots of strength work on the muscles that hold the shoulder, the big rotator cuff and muscles that hanker it down ... lots of work in the gym and fingers crossed absolutely no problems although saying that i wouldn't want to test it ... just get it as strong as possible
  • Haven't dislocated a shoulder (touches some wood!) but you're right in thinking it will never be as strong as it originally was.  I would recommend strengthening the rotator cuff muscles and the upper back area.  Might be worth speaking to a sports injuries specialist to get a series of exercises to do.
  • I dislocated mine in a fall during a fell race image

    It is weaker, but I've had a number of falls since and not done it again.

    I do a lot of manual work though, so I may have strenghthened the muscles as described above inadvertantly.

  • I did my left shoulder about 5 years ago playing in goal and then again about three years ago doing the same thing!! Been to the quacks and the advice was do NOT play in goal again, which i now do not! It is weaker now and i do feel it now and again but i hope it will be ok and last the distance. Doc said if it happened again then an op would be the way to go!

    Advice from me try it but be careful as it hurts even more the second time!!

  • Hubby's shoulder used to dislocate when he swam or reached behind him (like getting something of the back seat of the car while sitting in the front).  For years he used it as an excuse not to do certain things, but when we joined the gym he mentioned it to the PT and was given specific exercises to strengthen it.

    It appears that there is no exercise that you can't do, but there are certain ones that you should only do with low weights until you have built the strength up.

Sign In or Register to comment.