The shoulder is designed to provide us with an extensive range of motion in order to position our hands. This mobility also makes the shoulder the most unstable joint of the body. Either shoulder instability can occur through a traumatic injury such as a dislocation or it can develop through repetitive activities in extreme positions (swimming, gymnastics, etc). Many times this causes pain and a feeling of the shoulder slipping out of place.
The treatment depends on the cause of the instability, but typically involves a focused therapy program to strengthen the muscular stabilizers of the shoulder. If this treatment fails, surgery to repair and/or tighten the ligament structures can be performed. This is done as an outpatient and often times using the arthroscope.