A dislocated shoulder is an injury in which the upper arm bone pops out of the cup-shaped socket that’s part of the shoulder. This can happen when a person falls on their arm and their body weight pushes it over to one side. It can also happen when someone falls on their hand and tries to catch themselves with their other hand, or when they are trying to break a fall with one arm.
Dislocated shoulders are easily diagnosed as they are typically visibly out of place and are intensely painful. If your shoulder becomes dislocated, it is important to seek medical care right away. Do not try to move the joint as this may result in more damage to the joint. Seek emergency medical care to reduce the dislocation and follow up with an orthopedist as needed.
