EDS and stroke patients can be more prone to shoulder subluxations. Learn about what those are and how to prevent and treat them. Personalized and safe strength training programs are one of the best ways to prevent and treat shoulder subluxations for EDS and stroke patients.
Shoulder Subluxations and EDS
Patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome or EDS often have loose joints. The muscles helping these joints might also be too weak. Therefore a loose shoulder joint can result in a shoulder subluxation or dislocation. A subluxation is a partial dislocation. But it can be as painful as a full one! It happens when a joint partly slides in and out of its socket. However, safe and progressive strength training can help prevent and treat these.
They also can happen when the brain signals that tell the shoulder joints to contract aren’t firing properly. This can happen with EDS or other disorders. Without proper firing of these signals, a person can be more prone to subluxations. This can cause chronic pain and instability. As a result, everyday activities can become difficult.
Shoulder Subluxations and Stroke
Subluxations can also appear after a stroke or other traumatic injury. With strokes, there is an initial paralysis of the shoulder muscles from damage to the brain. Through personalized physical therapy programs, the brain can be retrained to activate the shoulder stabilizing muscles. Therefore, this can prevent future injury.
Prevent and Treat Subluxations for EDS and Stroke Patients
Without treatment, a subluxation or dislocation is likely to occur again. Therefore, it is best to consult with a physical therapist to help you build a program that safely and effectively strengthens the shoulder muscles and joints. A PT will consider your medical history and previous injuries. Then, they can identify why the subluxation occurs and the best treatment path to give you relief. The safest approach is a program of slow and progressive strengthening exercises. Doing that kind of program, you can stabilize the main muscle groups that control shoulder movements. This includes the deltoids, rotator cuff, and surrounding muscles.
It is important to always seek medical attention rather than treating a shoulder subluxation on your own. With the help of specialized PT there is now a way to prevent and treat shoulder subluxations for EDS and stroke patients.