Physiotherapy - Therapy following an Anterior Shoulder Dislocation

This information leaflet is designed to inform you how to rehabilitate your shoulder following an anterior shoulder dislocation.

The information included in this leaflet will guide your rehabilitation from immediately post injury, up until your first physiotherapy appointment.

At your first physiotherapy appointment you will be individually assessed, and they will progress your rehabilitation as appropriate.

Exercises To Perform 0-3 Weeks Post Injury

Following your injury, you are expected to complete the following exercises regularly every day:

1. Scapular setting

Sit or stand with your arms relaxed by your sides. Squeeze your shoulder blades together. You may feel a stretch across your chest as you do this. Hold this squeeze for 5 seconds. Repeat 10 times.

Scan this QR code for video instruction:

2. Shoulder Shrugs

Sit or stand with your arms relaxed by your sides. Shrug your shoulders up towards your ears. Hold this position for 5 seconds. Repeat 10 times.

Scan this QR code for video instruction:

3. Elbow flexion and extension

Sit or stand with your arm relaxed by your side – try to get your elbow as straight as you can. Then bend you elbow as much as you can. Repeat this movement 10 times.

Scan this QR code for video instruction:

4. Open and close fist 

Open your fist and spread your fingers out as much as you can. Then close your fist tightly. Repeat this movement 10 times.

Scan this QR code for video instruction:

5. Isometric shoulder abduction in neutral 

Stand with your affected arm by your side (this is the neutral position). Rest the outside of your elbow against a chair (as shown in the picture) or a wall. Push your elbow into the chair or the wall – you should feel tension in your upper arm as the muscles in your shoulder engage, but there should be no movement of the joint. The shoulder will remain in the neutral position as shown in the picture. Hold the tension for 5 seconds. Repeat the exercise 10 times.

6. Isometric shoulder internal rotation in neutral 

Stand with your effected arm by your side (this is the neutral position). Bend your elbow to a right angle and rest your palm against the side of a chair (as shown in the picture) or door frame. Push the palm of your hand into the chair or door frame whilst keeping your elbow by your side. You should feel tension in your upper arm as the muscles in your shoulder engage, but there should be no movement of the joint. The shoulder will remain in the neutral position as shown in the picture. Hold the tension for 5 seconds. Repeat the exercise 10 times.

7. Isometric shoulder external rotation in neutral 

Stand with your effected arm by your side (this is the neutral position). Bend your elbow to a right angle and rest the back of your hand against the side of a chair (as shown in the picture) or door frame. Push the back of your hand into the chair or door frame whilst keeping your elbow by your side. You should feel tension in your upper arm as the muscles in your shoulder engage, but there should be no movement of the joint. The shoulder will remain in the neutral position as shown in the picture. Hold the tension for 5 seconds. Repeat the exercise 10 times.

8. Isometric biceps 

Stand with your affected arm resting by your side. Bend your elbow to a right angle as shown in the picture. Place your other hand over the wrist of your affected arm. Try to bend the elbow of your affected arm but at the same time resist that movement with the hand of the non-affected arm. You should feel tension in your upper arm on the affected side, but there should be no movement of the joint. The shoulder will remain in the position shown in the picture. Hold the tension for 5 seconds. Repeat the exercise 10 times.

9. Isometric triceps 

Stand with your affected arm resting by your side. Bend your elbow to a right angle as shown in the picture. Place your other hand under the wrist of your affected arm. Try to straighten the elbow of your affected arm but at the same time resist that movement with the hand of the non-affected arm. You should feel tension in your upper arm on the affected side, but there should be no movement of the joint. The shoulder will remain in the position shown in the picture. Hold the tension for 5 seconds. Repeat the exercise 10 times.

10. Shoulder Pendulums

Lean on a countertop or arm of a chair with your non-affected arm in a straight position (as shown in the picture). Allow your affected arm to hang down toward the floor in a relaxed straight position (as shown in the picture). Using momentum, draw small circles with your affected arm. Repeat this movement for 30 seconds. Then, using momentum, draw small horizontal lines with your affected arm (left to right). Repeat this movement for 30 seconds. Then, using momentum, draw small vertical lines with your affected arm (up and down). Repeat this movement for 30 seconds.

Scan these QR codes for video instruction:

Pendulum circles 

 

Pendulum vertical lines 

 

Pendulum horizontal lines

Restrictions

Following an anterior shoulder dislocation, you are advised NOT to externally rotate your shoulder past neutral. The picture below shows the shoulder in the neutral position. The arrow in the picture shows the direction of movement that you are advised NOT to do.

The QR code below leads to a video also of the movement that you are advised NOT to do.

Sling Guidance

After your injury, you will have been fitted with a sling. This sling is only for comfort, and you should expect to be able to wean yourself off the sling by 2-4 weeks post injury, providing you are not in too much pain.

The QR codes below lead you to videos instructing you how to put on and take off your sling.

How to put on your sling

How to take off your sling 

Axillary (armpit) hygiene 

These pictures show how we advise you to complete axillary hygiene.

Scan the QR code below for video instructions on how to complete axillary hygiene.

Any Alternative Advice 

Occasionally the orthopaedic doctors looking after you will give slightly different advice than the above.

Any changes to the advice provided will be handwritten by your therapist below:

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