Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooShoulder Dislocation

• Trauma in sport – usually in sports like rugby, football, hockey, and American football. A player tackles the other player who either falls badly or has the arm wrenched causing a dislocation.
• Blunt trauma – sustaining a strong impact directly to the shoulder joint (usually again in sport) can dislocate the shoulder.
• Falling – a dislocation can occur from a fall to the side of the shoulder, the tip of the shoulder, or falling on an outstretched arm.
• Snow sports – snowboarders and skiers are prone to falling and can dislocate the shoulder.
• Seizures and electric shocks – these can cause the shoulder to dislocate backwards (AAOS, n.d.a).
• Recurring dislocations – once you have dislocated the shoulder, there is a higher risk of it happening again, and later dislocations can happen even without an injury (AAOS, n.d.a).

When the shoulder subluxes, the head of the humerus partly comes out of the socket, and it can move back into place on its own (AAOS, n.d.a).

When the shoulder dislocates, the head of the humerus comes out of the glenoid cavity and remains outside of the joint. This can damage a number of associated structures, including the labrum (it can tear as the ball comes out; this is known as a Bankart lesion), the ligaments around the joint, the rotator cuff tendons, and sometimes the bone itself (AAOS, n.d.a).

1. Closed Reduction

At the hospital, you will usually have an X-ray to check your shoulder is dislocated and to look for any broken bones. A doctor will then gently move the ball of the upper arm back into the joint socket, which is known as a closed reduction. You will be given a local anaesthetic or a sedative so you do not feel the pain (NHS, 2026; AAOS, n.d.a). Severe pain usually stops almost immediately once the shoulder is back in place (AAOS, n.d.a).

2. Immobilization

Once your arm is back in place, you will be given a sling to support your arm for the first few weeks (NHS, 2026). Follow the advice of your doctor.

3. Ice

The sore area can be iced to help with swelling and pain. Wrap an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) in a tea towel and apply it for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours (NHS, 2026). Never put ice directly on the skin.

4. Pain relief

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says anti-inflammatory medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen can help reduce pain and swelling after a shoulder dislocation (AAOS, n.d.a). (This medicine information comes from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (OrthoInfo), not from me. Always check with a pharmacist or your family doctor or nurse practitioner before taking any medicine.)

5. Rest

Take the time to allow your body to rest. Refrain from participating in activities where you are going to further injure the shoulder. Your doctor or physiotherapist will advise you on when you can return to daily tasks like driving or playing sport (NHS, 2026).

It usually takes 6 to 12 weeks to recover from a dislocated shoulder, and it may take up to 16 weeks to fully return to some sports (NHS, 2026).

Options outside my scope

• Stabilization surgery: if the shoulder keeps dislocating or there is damage to the labrum, ligaments or bone, surgery to repair or tighten these structures may be offered; some young athletes consider it after a first dislocation (AAOS, n.d.a; NHS, 2026).
• Scans: a CT or MRI scan may be used to check for damage to the bones, labrum or ligaments (AAOS, n.d.a).

How I can help (see the My Approach tab)

• Hands-on work for the shoulder, neck and upper back
• Rotator cuff and shoulder blade strengthening, from gentle exercises to weights
• Working within your medical team's limits and helping you return to sport

Chest wall work needs informed consent and a written consent form; armpit work needs informed consent. If your shoulder comes out again, don't put it back yourself: call 911 or go to the emergency room.