Shoulder instability. Diagnosis and management.

Abstract

Clinical history is effective for diagnosing obvious shoulder instability. The O'Brien's sign (for superior labral lesions), the sulcus sign (for capsular laxity) and the apprehension sign (for anterior instability) are helpful clinical tests for more subtle instabilities. Labral disruptions and capsular laxity can often be restored by minimally invasive (arthroscopic) methods. Rehabilitation aims to enhance the dynamic muscular and proprioceptive restraints to shoulder instability.