How physical therapy can help shoulder dislocation
Physical therapy can help ease the pain and discomfort of a number of injuries. If you have a dislocated shoulder, physical therapy can help to regain normal function of the arm and can be an alternative to surgery if the injury is not severe. If the injury is severe, though, surgery is usually the best and only option.
At the initial evaluation with your physical therapist, he/she will ask questions and examine your arm, evaluating your pain level, strength, range of motion, function, and other aspects of the injury. Once the physical therapist has completed the evaluation, a proper treatment regime will be in place, as there are a number of different treatments one can expect to do for a dislocated shoulder.
The range of motion exercises are a common form of exercises for someone recovering from a dislocated shoulder. These exercises will help regain previously lost mobility, and will be most beneficial to someone who was previously wearing a sling.
A physical therapist can properly guide you to gain your strength back, typically focusing on tricep, bicep, rotator cuff muscles, and the muscles that are supporting the shoulder blades.
It is important to maintain good posture while recovering from a dislocated shoulder. Without proper posture, you may not heal as well as you could have. Your physical therapist will teach you proper posture to ensure you make the best recovery.
Pain management is a major factor in physical therapy treatment. Your physical therapist will make sure you’re not in excruciating pain, although some pain is beneficial and necessary. He/she will use manipulation in order to stretch the shoulder, as it will be beneficial in stretching out the muscles in order to prevent tightness. Using ice or heat is also beneficial and will be part of the treatment process, as well as electric stimulation in order to help out the muscles.
One can expect to receive physical therapy anywhere from eight to twelve weeks. Longer healing time can be expected for severe cases. Progression will be noted to make sure you are benefiting from the therapy, and if progress is not made, surgery is the next option.
The main goal of physical therapy after a shoulder dislocation is to help regain strength, decrease the pain, and help the patient have normal function of their arm. Physical therapy can also help in preventing dislocating the shoulder again.
Did you know that you have Direct Access to Physical Therapy? No referral is needed. We offer the best Physical Therapy on Long Island where you can get help from our trusted and expert Physical Therapists. To start your Physical Therapy evaluation, call Park Physical Therapy at (516) 798-3789 today!
