Ways To Treat Shoulder Subluxation

Closed Reduction

This procedure is the act of manipulating the arm bones back into place after a shoulder subluxation by a doctor or other skilled individual. It can be performed during a doctor visit or in the hospital. Typically, the patient is given an intravenous sedative or a local injection to lessen the pain associated with the procedure. When the bone appears to be back in its place, an x-ray is usually taken to verify the shoulder is in the right position and no further damage has occurred. Once confirmed, the patient can be referred to an orthopedic doctor for physical therapy, further testing of joint stability, and to ensure there is no further ligament or tendon damage.

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Physical Rehabilitation

Because a shoulder subluxation can include torn tendons and ligaments along with an unstable shoulder joint, it is common to have recurring subluxations after the first one. Physical rehabilitation can help to strengthen connecting tissues and the shoulder joint itself, mitigating the chances of repeat injuries to the shoulder. Physical therapy techniques will be modified depending on a few different factors including severity of the subluxation, if it is recurrent, how much tissue is damaged, the amount of instability in the shoulder, and the activity level of the patient before the injury. The goal of physical rehabilitation is to regain the arm’s prior range of motion. It is most often useful if surgery has been performed on the subluxation.

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