A dislocated shoulder is an injury that occurs when your upper arm bone, called the humerus, partially or completely pops out of the socket inside your shoulder joint. After initial treatment, injuries of this type commonly require some form of restorative exercise to strengthen the shoulder joint and help prevent future dislocations. Speak to your doctor or physical therapist before engaging in restorative exercises.
Initial Treatment
Treatment for a dislocated shoulder typically begins when your doctor resets the ball of your humerus bone back into its socket, which is formed by a portion of your shoulder blade. She may then use a sling or splint to immobilize your shoulder and allow time for any pain and swelling to subside. Depending on the severity of your dislocation, this initial period may last for as long as several weeks. During this time, your doctor may recommend painkillers and ice or another cold source to diminish your discomfort.
Rehabilitation
Active rehabilitation of your dislocated shoulder usually begins once your pain and swelling ease. The main purposes of rehabilitation are strengthening of the muscles associated with your shoulder and restoration of your shoulder joint's normal range of motion. Typically, rehabilitation begins with exercises that improve your muscle tone. After your shoulder has regained sufficient strength, your doctor or physical therapist may add weight training exercises to this basic routine.
Exercises
Initial exercises that your doctor or physical therapist may recommend include shoulder extensions, shoulder flexions, elbow range-of-motion exercises, and shoulder abductions and adductions. Your doctor may also recommend exercises called isometrics, which require very little motion in your shoulder joint. More advanced exercises for a dislocated shoulder include specialized push-ups, arm-raising exercises called scaptions and exercises to strengthen your latissimus dorsi muscles. Your doctor may also recommend extension, rotation, flexion or adduction exercises that require the use of a resistance band. Ask your doctor or physical therapist for more information on how to safely and properly perform these exercises.
Considerations
If you return to normal activity before completing shoulder rehabilitation, you can injure your shoulder joint or trigger another dislocation, notes MayoClinic.com. In some cases, the structures in your shoulder may be too weak to prevent a dislocation even after you complete rehabilitation, and your doctor may recommend surgery to repair any structural damage. Your doctor may also recommend surgery if a dislocation has damaged the blood vessels or nerves that run through your shoulder joint.
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