What does a dislocation mean?

Dislocation refers to a joint injury in which the ends of two or more bones forcefully disconnect from their natural positions. This injury temporarily and painfully deforms and immobilizes the joint.

The most common joint dislocations include the shoulders and fingers, though other joints such as the elbows, knees, and hips may all suffer dislocation. If you suspect you have dislocated a joint, seek immediate medical intervention in order to return your bones to the proper places.

When properly treated, most dislocated joints regain their normal function after a couple of weeks spent resting and rehabilitating. However, some joints, such as the shoulder, may suffer an increased risk of dislocation moving forward.

What are the symptoms of a dislocation?

• Visibly deformed or out-of-place joint
• Numbness or tingling at the joint
• Swollen or discolored
• Limited mobility at the point of dislocation
• Intense pain

What causes a dislocation?

A dislocated joint can be caused by traumas such as falling, automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents, or a hard collision. A hard collision could occur during high-contact sports such as football, soccer, or rugby. 

Dislocation usually involves the body’s larger joints. Dislocations most often occur in the shoulder in adults. In children, dislocations most often occur in. the elbow. Your thumb and fingers also are vulnerable if forcibly bent the wrong way.

How do you treat a dislocation?

Physical Therapy

Physical therapists diagnose and treat patients with medical problems or injuries that limit their ability to participate in their daily lives. Patients will usually see a physical therapist after a referral by their primary physician. Physical therapists work with patients who have experienced an injury or disease that has affected their movement and range of motion.

At Nextgen Pain & Injury Clinic, our team of licensed physical therapists and rehabilitation experts will focus on your total health and wellness. Regardless of the cause or source of your pain, we will develop a treatment plan with your unique issues in mind.

Our treatment philosophy emphasizes evidence-based manual and therapeutic exercise techniques that are tailored toward efficiently returning patients, athletes, and employees to their pre-injury status. We treat orthopedic and sports injuries, provide spinal rehabilitation, post-surgical rehabilitation, and industrial rehabilitation. Personalized physical therapy is used to treat a variety of conditions.

• Chronic and acute medical problems
• Knee pain
• Back pain
• Leg Pain
• Ankle pain
• Sports injuries
• Musculoskeletal injuries
• Chronic medical problems
• Neurological conditions such as spinal cord injuries