How to Tell If a Shoulder Is Dislocated
While the shoulder joint is the most flexible of all the body's joints, it is also that range of movement that makes the shoulder easily prone to injury. A dislocated shoulder is an extremely painful injury that happens when the upper arm bone, or humerus, is knocked out of the socket at the scapula or shoulder blade. Distinctive symptoms make it fairly easy to tell if a shoulder has been dislocated.
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Instructions
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Determine what caused the injury. Some type of trauma or impact to the shoulder area would most likely precede a dislocated shoulder.
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Take note of whether the person is holding the injured arm close to the body with other arm. This is a natural reaction following a dislocated shoulder, as it will be a less painful position.
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Determine the pain level. A dislocated shoulder will cause extreme pain.
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Observe the area in front of and behind the shoulder. A dislocation will cause a noticeable bump and will look different than the uninjured shoulder, typically appearing more square than rounded, perhaps even rather deformed.
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Look for signs of weakness, numbness or tingling, which may spread to the neck or down the arm. Muscle spasms may be present as well. Movement will be difficult or impossible.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not attempt to pop the arm bone back into the socket. Seek medical attention to avoid doing more damage to the injured area.
