Shoulder Dislocation Treatment
What is a Shoulder Dislocation
If you’ve experienced a shoulder dislocation, you know how painful and unsettling it can be. The sudden loss of movement, the visible deformity, and the fear of it happening again can leave you anxious about returning to sport, work, or everyday activities. Don’t let fear hold you back—book your assessment today and start your recovery with expert guidance.
The shoulder is the body’s most mobile joint, which also makes it the most vulnerable to dislocation. When the head of your upper arm bone (humerus) is forced out of the shoulder socket, surrounding tissues including ligaments, tendons, and muscles can be damaged. This trauma creates instability that, without proper treatment, can lead to chronic problems and repeated dislocations.
There are several common types:
- Anterior dislocation: the most frequent type, accounting for about 95% of cases, where the shoulder dislocates forward, usually from a fall or direct blow
- Posterior dislocation: when the shoulder dislocates backward, often from seizures or electrical shocks, and can be easily missed on initial examination
- Inferior dislocation: a rare but serious type where the arm becomes locked above the head
- Recurrent dislocation: repeated episodes of instability, particularly common in younger patients or those who don’t complete proper rehabilitation
Research published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine shows that without appropriate physiotherapy, first-time dislocations under 30 have a recurrence rate as high as 72%. Early, structured rehabilitation dramatically reduces this risk and improves long-term shoulder function.
How Physiotherapy Can Transform Your Recovery
After a shoulder dislocation, proper rehabilitation is crucial to prevent ongoing instability and restore confidence in your shoulder. Shoulder dislocation treatment through physiotherapy focuses on rebuilding the strength and control needed to protect your joint during daily activities and sport.
In the early stages after relocation (performed in a medical setting), we focus on reducing pain and inflammation while protecting healing tissues. As recovery progresses, we target the rotator cuff muscles and scapular stabilisers that form your shoulder’s natural defence system. These muscles work together to keep your shoulder centred in its socket during movement.
Our therapists also address any stiffness that develops during the healing process. We use gentle mobilisation techniques and progressive stretching to restore your full range of motion without compromising the healing structures. If you’re also experiencing issues with shoulder blade pain, we can address these concerns as part of your comprehensive treatment plan.
Treatment follows a phased plan:
- Protect and heal: initial rest, ice, and gentle pendulum exercises to maintain circulation
- Restore movement: gradual stretching and joint mobilisation to regain range of motion
- Rebuild strength: progressive resistance exercises targeting rotator cuff and scapular muscles
- Return to function: sport specific or work specific training to prepare for your goals
We incorporate proprioceptive exercises, activities that retrain your shoulder’s position sense so your body learns to react quickly and prevent future injuries. Understanding and correcting muscle imbalances is also essential to your recovery, as weakness in supporting muscles can increase your risk of reinjury.
Your recovery is tailored to your specific needs, whether you’re returning to rugby, swimming, manual work, or simply want to lift your grandchildren comfortably again. We also treat related shoulder conditions like shoulder impingement, which can sometimes develop following a dislocation if proper rehabilitation isn’t completed.
How True Physio Can Help
Our expert team helps you rebuild confidence, restore stability, and get back to the activities that matter to you. Shoulder dislocation can create lasting anxiety about reinjury, but with evidence based treatment, you can recover fully.
Our approach is built around your goals. You’ll benefit from:
- Reduced pain and inflammation through hands on treatment and therapeutic modalities
- Improved stability and strength to protect against future dislocations
- Comprehensive assessment to identify any underlying risk factors or weakness patterns
- Individualised rehab plans that progress at the right pace for your healing
- Sport or work specific training to ensure safe return to your activities
- Education on prevention strategies to reduce your long term recurrence risk
In some of our clinics, our rehabilitation gyms offer specialist equipment to safely challenge your shoulder and build the resilience you need for long term stability.
Book your appointment today and get back to doing what you love with confidence.
