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Shoulder Dislocations
Sometimes the bones in the shoulder joint slip out of normal alignment or are forced out by injury-subluxation and dislocation. For those individuals who suffer from chronic shoulder instability, dislocations may occur frequently. This occurs because first  dislocations usually require a significant amount of force as in anterior dislocations, in which the anterior static shoulder stabilizers are stretched or torn away from the bone. Approximately 95% of shoulder dislocations are this type and typically occur when a person falls on their outstretched hand, or sustains a downward motion blow to the shoulder.

Until recently it was common in cases of dislocation to immobilize the shoulder for long periods of time. But studies showed that while immobilization helped alleviate the pain of such injuries, it also contributed to a general weakening of the ligaments and predominance of adhesive capsulitis.

In one alarming study of 245 patients who had suffered a combined 247 shoulder dislocations, about half of those treated with immobilization had recurring dislocations within the 10 year period of the study. The problem was much greater in the study’s younger people (teens and twenties).  This is one of the few situations where older folks have an advantage, because their connective tissues are less elastic, the risk of dislocation is less likely.

Surgery for shoulder separations can be effective for some but as always, surgery should be considered a last option because of issues of complications, down time (immobilization), and for the "weekend warrior," or professional athlete, a weakening of the shoulder through the removal of and damaging of other connective tissue in the surgical process.

What about Prolotherapy for Shoulder Problems?
Read about a radio caller and their shoulder seperation