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Dislocated Shoulder
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Injuries Wounds

Dislocated Shoulder

A shoulder dislocation occurs when the ball of the upper arm bone pops out of the shoulder blade socket, requiring immediate medical attention to restore joint function.

Overview

Your shoulder joint is made up of three bones: your collarbone, your shoulder blade, and your upper arm bone. The top of your upper arm bone is shaped like a ball, which fits into a cuplike socket in your shoulder blade. A shoulder dislocation is an injury that happens when the ball pops out of your socket. A dislocation may be partial, where the ball is only partially out of the socket, or a full dislocation, where the ball is completely out of the socket.

Causes & Risk Factors

Your shoulders are the most movable joints in your body and are also the most commonly dislocated joints. Common causes include:

  • Sports injuries
  • Accidents, including traffic accidents
  • Falling on your shoulder or outstretched arm
  • Seizures and electric shocks, which can cause muscle contractions that pull the arm out of place

While a dislocated shoulder can happen to anyone, it is more common in young men involved in sports and physical activities. Older adults, especially women, are also at higher risk due to an increased likelihood of falling.

Symptoms

If you experience the following symptoms, seek medical treatment right away:

  • Severe shoulder pain
  • Swelling and bruising of your shoulder or upper arm
  • Numbness and/or weakness in your arm, neck, hand, or fingers
  • Trouble moving your arm
  • Your arm seems to be out of place
  • Muscle spasms in your shoulder

Diagnosis

To make a diagnosis, your health care provider will take a medical history and examine your shoulder. Your provider may also ask you to get an x-ray to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment & Management

Treatment for a dislocated shoulder usually involves three steps:

  • Closed reduction: A procedure in which your health care provider puts the ball of your upper arm back into the socket. You may first receive medicine to relieve pain and relax your shoulder muscles. Once the joint is back in place, the severe pain should end.
  • Wearing a sling: You will wear a sling or other device for a few days to several weeks to keep your shoulder in place.
  • Rehabilitation: Once pain and swelling have improved, you will perform exercises to improve your range of motion and strengthen your muscles.

Surgery may be necessary if you injure the tissues or nerves around the shoulder or if you experience repeated dislocations. Because a dislocation can make your shoulder unstable, there is a higher risk of it happening again. Your health care provider may recommend continuing specific exercises to prevent future dislocations.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most telling sign is that the shoulder looks visibly different from the uninjured side, often appearing squared-off or flattened because the ball of the humerus is no longer seated in the socket. Unlike a sprain, where you might still have some range of motion, a dislocation typically makes it impossible to move the arm in a normal arc. Additionally, patients often report a sudden, sharp pain at the moment of injury followed by a feeling of the arm being "stuck" or out of place, which is distinct from the dull ache of a muscle strain.
Yes, the axillary nerve is particularly vulnerable during a dislocation and can be stretched or compressed. Symptoms of nerve involvement include numbness or tingling on the outer part of the upper arm (the "regimental badge" area) and weakness in lifting the arm away from the body. While many mild nerve injuries resolve on their own within weeks to months, persistent numbness or weakness beyond three months requires further evaluation by a specialist to rule out permanent damage.
Recovery varies significantly based on age and whether this is a first-time or recurrent event. For a first-time dislocation in a young athlete, immobilization in a sling usually lasts two to four weeks, followed by physical therapy to restore range of motion and strength. Most people can return to non-contact activities in six to eight weeks, but full return to contact sports may take three to six months. Recurrent dislocations often require surgical stabilization, which extends the recovery timeline to several months before safe return to high-risk activities.
The risk of recurrence is highest in the first year after the initial injury, especially for individuals under 25 years old. Studies suggest that up to 90% of young athletes may experience a second dislocation without surgical intervention. To reduce this risk, it is critical to complete a full course of physical therapy focused on strengthening the rotator cuff and scapular stabilizers. Avoiding high-risk contact sports until the shoulder is fully healed and strong is also essential to prevent re-injury.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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