Shoulder Instability
Why Does My Shoulder Feel Unstable?
Understanding Shoulder Instability and How Physical Therapy Can Help
Have you ever felt like your shoulder might “slip” out of place, or actually had it dislocate during sports or daily activities? You’re not alone. Shoulder instability is a common but often misunderstood condition that can affect people of all ages—especially athletes, active individuals, and those who’ve had previous shoulder injuries.
At Agility Physical Therapy, we help patients every day who are frustrated by shoulder discomfort, weakness, or fear of re-injury. Understanding the “why” behind your symptoms is the first step toward getting better.
What Is Shoulder Instability?
Shoulder instability happens when the structures that hold the shoulder joint in place—such as ligaments, tendons, muscles, and the joint capsule—become stretched, torn, or weakened. This allows the ball of the upper arm bone (humeral head) to move too much within the socket (glenoid fossa), creating that feeling of looseness or the actual event of the shoulder slipping or dislocating.
Shoulder instability can be:
Traumatic: following a fall, collision, or hard impact
Repetitive: from repeated overhead motion, common in volleyball, swimming, tennis, and throwing sports
Multidirectional: where the joint feels loose in multiple directions due to naturally lax ligaments or repetitive strain
Common Symptoms of Shoulder Instability:
✅ A sensation of the shoulder feeling loose or unstable
✅ Recurrent dislocations or subluxations (partial dislocations)
✅ Weakness, especially when lifting, reaching, or throwing
✅ Aching or sharp pain with certain arm movements or after physical activity
✅ Fear or hesitation to use the arm fully
How Physical Therapy Helps: Our Approach at Agility PT
The good news? Most cases of shoulder instability can be effectively managed—and often completely resolved—without surgery through targeted physical therapy. Our philosophy is rooted in restoring stability, control, and confidence in your shoulder so you can return to what you love without fear.
Here’s how we do it:
🔹 1. Strengthen the Dynamic Stabilizers
The rotator cuff and scapular (shoulder blade) muscles play a key role in keeping the shoulder centered. We create customized exercises to strengthen these muscles and help the joint move safely.
🔹 2. Improve Neuromuscular Control
Your body’s ability to sense joint position (proprioception) often declines after instability or injury. We use balance drills, closed-chain exercises (like planks or wall push-ups), and stability challenges to “teach” the joint how to stay centered.
🔹 3. Restore Safe Range of Motion
We guide you through gentle stretching and mobility work to restore flexibility without overstressing the vulnerable tissues. Movement must be pain-free and controlled before progressing.
🔹 4. Gradually Load the Joint
As strength and stability improve, we introduce functional and sport-specific movements—whether that’s throwing a ball, swinging a racket, or lifting overhead safely.
🔹 5. Prevent Recurrence
Finally, we teach proper mechanics, postural corrections, and home exercises to help prevent future episodes of instability or injury.
A Real-World Example:
Our own team members have experienced shoulder instability firsthand—whether from sports like soccer or years of sand volleyball. In one case, after a shoulder dislocation, recovery took nearly two years of gradual strengthening, mobility work, and neuromuscular retraining. Today, that same shoulder is pain-free, strong, and fully functional—a testament to the power of physical therapy when done right.
Should You Seek Help for Shoulder Instability?
If your shoulder feels like it’s slipping, giving way, or you’ve had even one dislocation, it’s important to address it early. Ignoring the problem can lead to repeated dislocations, worsening instability, and potential damage to the joint surfaces over time.
At Agility Physical Therapy, we specialize in helping people recover safely, rebuild confidence, and get back to the activities they love—whether that’s athletics, work, or simply reaching for items overhead without fear.
👉 Schedule your evaluation today by calling 509-676-2122 or emailing contact@agilityptww.com. Let’s work together to build a stronger, more stable shoulder—one that moves with you, not against you.