Posterior shoulder instability

Understanding the anatomic restraints to posterior shoulder instability and the resulting pathophysiology helps the treating physician make a correct diagnosis and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. A nonoperative progr am directed at reducing pain and increasing stability through comprehensive shoulder strengthening methods has generally been successful in treating r ecurrent posterior shoulder subluxation. Surgical options for treatment are reserved for those patients who fail to recognize improvement after six mo nths of therapy and have no evidence of a psychological disturbance as the cause of their posterior instability.