Shoulder and other joint injuries are fairly common in weightlifting, especially for beginners that have not yet perfected proper form and technique. Such injuries often range from strains and pulls to complete dislocations of one or both shoulder joints.
Description
A bilateral injury means injury of the right and left part of the body. For example, both knees or both elbows. In the case of bilateral shoulder dislocation, both shoulder joints are dislocated. A dislocation means that the ball of a joint, such as the upper end of the humerus or arm bone, moves or is jolted out of its shoulder socket due to injury or weakening of the ligaments holding the joint in place. Such incidents occur on the front or anterior side of the shoulder joint.
Cause
Bench pressing weights that are too heavy may cause a bilateral anterior shoulder dislocation. Other actions like repeated lifting of objects or weights over the head may also cause such as dislocation. A shoulder dislocation may be accompanied by symptoms such as pain in the shoulder and inability to perform range of motion. Weakness and inability to use the arm and hand are also common.
Treatment
Treatment of a bilateral dislocation of the anterior shoulder is usually accomplished with a simple closed reduction. This means that the doctor manipulated the ball end of the upper arm back into its proper location in the shoulder joint. Your doctor may require you to wear your arms in a sling, or cushion your arm with a pillow placed between your arm and your body for support.
Therapy
Following adequate healing time, which depends on your overall age and physical fitness, severity of the dislocation and your pain tolerance, your doctor may recommend you see a physical therapist to help strengthen your shoulder joint and restore function and range of motion to the affected shoulders. Only after your shoulders can perform range-of-motion activities will you advance to gentle strengthening or weight-training exercises that will help restore function and movement, as well as support of your shoulders. Follow guidelines provided by your therapist for weight-training activities.
Passive Range of Motion
With a bilateral dislocation, your therapist may perform passive range-of-motion exercises on the shoulder joint. For example, the therapist may brace your arm above and below the elbow, and then slowly extend your arm away from the body in a shoulder abduction exercise. Your palm should be facing down, and the therapist will perform short range of movement to start, gradually increasing the arc as your shoulder grows stronger and your pain lessens.
Active Range of Motion
Once your shoulders are stronger, you may perform pendulum exercises on your own. Pendulum swings are commonly recommended for shoulder joint dislocations. Lying face down on a table or couch, allow one arm to hang over the edge. Slowly swing the arm in a back-and-forth motion in very small arcs to start. As your shoulder strength increases, widen the arc as instructed by your therapist.
