A dislocated shoulder can be an extremely painful injury, especially considering the pain will linger for several weeks after the injury occurs. Dislocated shoulder rehab will be necessary to restore mobility and strengthen the muscles and ligaments surrounding the joint. One of the best tips for dislocated shoulder rehab is to start slow to prevent re-injury. The injured person will have to learn to push himself past his comfort zone over the course of weeks, but to begin dislocated shoulder rehab, only slight movements for brief periods of time should be attempted. Plenty of rest should be allowed for healing, and the arm should remain immobilized as much as possible.
After a shoulder dislocation occurs, the injured person will suffer from a loss of mobility in the arm. Dislocated shoulder rehab will include range of motion exercises that do not use resistance to restore some of that mobility. Again, the injured person should start with small movements several weeks after the injury occurs. The rest period in which the arm is immobilized is important to allow torn ligaments and muscles to repair themselves, and doing too much too soon can re-injure those ligaments and muscles. It is best to start slowly by testing the limits of the shoulder's range of motion. If pain occurs, stop the exercise immediately and rest.
After several weeks or even a month, dislocated shoulder rehab exercises using resistance may begin. These exercises are designed to strengthen and tone the damaged muscles and ligaments that were stretched and damaged during the injury. A doctor may recommend a physical therapist for the patient to visit; this professional will design an exercise program for the patient that will strengthen the muscles incrementally over the course of several weeks or months. Intense physical activity should be avoided until the exercise plan has been completed.
Other dislocated shoulder rehab exercises and stretches may be done at home to speed the recovery period, but again, the patient should be careful not to re-injure the shoulder. Soreness and aches are normal during rehabilitation, but sharp pains or limited mobility may be indicators of larger problems. After the injury and throughout the rehabilitation process, the patient can expect lasting muscle aches as well as headaches or aches in other parts of the body. Over the counter pain relievers can be taken to alleviate some of this pain; if the pain becomes more intense, a doctor may prescribe a stronger painkiller.
