Understanding shoulder instability

This document discusses shoulder instability, including traumatic and atraumatic causes. It presents three case studies to demonstrate different types of instability: 1) a rugby player with recurrent anterior dislocations requiring surgical repair for bony lesions; 2) a drama student with recurrent posterior subluxations and normal imaging, indicating a motor control issue; and 3) a gymnast with multidirectional instability and hyperlaxity who may benefit from capsular plication. The document outlines the Stanmore classification system for shoulder instability (Polar types I-III) and factors to consider in surgical versus rehabilitation management depending on the specific instability pattern.