Dislocation Verses Subluxation – What’s The Difference

Understanding Joint Dislocation

Dislocation verses subluxation are similar injuries. Specifically a dislocation is a condition where the bones that form a joint are completely forced out of their normal positions. This usually occurs due to trauma, such as a sports injury, fall, or high force incident such as a motor vehicle accident.

A dislocated joint often appears visibly deformed and is typically accompanied by significant pain associated with an inability to move the injured joint. As a rule, dislocation requires immediate medical attention, often followed by a period of immobilisation and a carefully guided rehabilitation plan. The shoulder, kneecap, and fingers the most frequently dislocated joints. After the joint is reduced (put back into its appropriate position), physio plays a crucial role in the rehabilitation process and reducing the risk of recurrence.

What Is a Subluxation?

Subluxation refers to a partial dislocation. The bones that make up a joint are misaligned, but they remain in partial contact. While the joint may spontaneously return to its normal position, medical assistance to reduce the joint may be required in some circumstances.

Subluxations are likely to be less obvious than full dislocations and may present as joint pain, a sense of instability, or the reported sensation of the joint ‘slipping.’ In some cases, such as with shoulder subluxation, individuals report a clicking or popping sensation. As following a dislocation physio management focuses on improving joint stability, correcting biomechanical imbalances, and educating patients on activity modifications working to reduce the risk of recurrence.

Dislocation Verses Subluxation: What’s the Difference?

So how can you tell the difference between a dislocation verses subluxation? The key difference lies in the degree of displacement. In a dislocation, the joint surfaces are completely separated, whereas in a subluxation, the joint surfaces lose their proper alignment but maintain some degree of contact.

Dislocations typically present with dramatic symptoms, including visible pain and deformity which is associated with a complete loss of function till the joint is reduced. Subluxations, by contrast, are generally more subtle in all of these ways.

Common Causes and Risk Factors

Both dislocation verses subluxation share similar causes. Including:

• Trauma from falls or collisions
• Sports injuries, especially in contact sports or overhead action sports
• Ligament laxity or hypermobility syndromes
• Abnormal anatomy 
• Specific repetitive loading to joints and associated tissues

People with general joint hypermobility or conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome may be more prone to subluxations. Dislocations that we see at Sydney Physio Clinic are generally more common associated with trauma associated with high-impact settings, such as during tackles in football codes and bicycle crashes.

Physio Management for Dislocation

Rehabilitation following a dislocation typically involves multiple stages. Initially, treatment focuses on pain relief and protection of the healing structures. After this initial phase of reduction and immobilisation, physiotherapy treatment aims to:

• Restore motion
• Strengthen surrounding muscles
• Improve joint joint awareness and control 
• Prevent future dislocations through tailored exercise programs and if needed bracing and activity modification. 
• Functional retraining and graded return-to-sport protocols.

For example, in shoulder dislocations, evidence supports the use of rotator cuff and scapular stability exercises to prevent recurrence, especially in younger populations with high recurrence risk【1】.

Physiotherapy Management for Joint Subluxation

When treating subluxation, the emphasis is on improving joint stability and function. Physiotherapists often use neuromuscular retraining, proprioceptive drills, and progressive resistance exercises to support joint integrity.

• Taping techniques, bracing, even posture correction may be used, depending on the joint involved.

When to Seek Treatment Dislocation Verses Subluxation

Regardless of whether a person experiences a dislocation verses subluxation, early assessment is recommended. Intervention can assist by:

• Reducing pain and swelling
• Help to prevent significant stiffness or instability
• Accelerate recovery and return to pre-injury activity levels
• Reduce recurrence risk

At Sydney Physio Clinic, our physiotherapists provide targeted treatment plans tailored to the specific joint and severity of injury. Whether it’s your first dislocation or you’ve had recurrent subluxations, early treatment can make a positive difference in your recovery and long-term outcomes.

Prognosis and Long-Term Outlook Dislocation Verses Subluxation

Dislocations generally require an extended recovery time and carry a higher risk of recurrence, especially if the associated soft tissue structures are significantly damaged. Surgical intervention may be required in some cases. Particularly so in repeated shoulder or patella dislocations.

Subluxations often have a better short-term recovery timeframes, particularly with physiotherapy-led rehabilitation. However, persistent instability without treatment can increase the risk of eventual dislocation or degenerative joint changes over time as a result of the repeated trauma.

Understanding the difference between a dislocation verses subluxation can help guide the rehabilitation process. From a physiotherapy standpoint, both conditions demand tailored rehabilitation strategies. If you’ve experienced joint instability, suspect a dislocation or subluxation, we consider early diagnosis and physiotherapy intervention essential for your long-term joint health.

References

[1] Olds M, Ellis R, Parmar P, Kersten P. “The effectiveness of exercise in the conservative management of full-thickness traumatic rotator cuff tears: A systematic review.” Br J Sports Med. 2015.

[2] Hayes K, Callanan M, Walton J, Paxinos A, Murrell GAC. “Shoulder instability: Management and rehabilitation.” J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2002.