Immediate Post-Dislocation Care

Immediate Care After a Shoulder Dislocation

After a shoulder dislocation has been reduced (put back in place), the early focus is to settle pain, protect healing tissues, and maintain gentle movement where appropriate. Always follow the specific instructions given by the clinician who treated your injury—especially if you were told there may be associated injury (for example, fracture or significant soft tissue damage).

There is some evidence that your rate of recurrence is decreased by wearing a sling and immobilising your shoulder (Olds et al., 2019). While we currently don't know exactly how long to immobilise your shoulder (wear your sling). A review of multiple studies showed there is no difference between immobilising for 1 week or 3 weeks (Paterson et al., 2010). This may be because everyone's shoulder dislocation is slightly different. The general advice is to wear your sling for 1-3 weeks, and then take it off and start gently moving your arm.

First 24–72 hours

  • Sling: Use a sling if prescribed, mainly for comfort and protection.
  • Pain relief: Use pain relief as advised by your clinician or pharmacist.
  • Cold/ice: Consider short periods of cold therapy for comfort (avoid direct skin contact).
  • Hand, wrist and elbow: Keep these moving regularly to reduce stiffness.
  • Posture: Aim for a relaxed, upright posture rather than guarding the shoulder.

Gentle movement

If you have been advised to start movement early, begin with small, comfortable ranges. Avoid forcing into painful positions or stretching aggressively.

  • Gentle shoulder movement within comfort (as advised)
  • Light shoulder blade “setting” (relaxed, controlled)
  • Short, frequent sessions are usually better than one long session

What to avoid early on

  • Heavy lifting, pushing, pulling, or sudden overhead movements
  • Fast or loaded end-range positions
  • Sport or contact activity until you have regained control and confidence
  • Removing the sling for long periods if it significantly increases pain

When to seek urgent help

Seek urgent medical advice if you develop:

  • New or worsening numbness/tingling in the arm or hand
  • Increasing weakness or inability to lift the arm compared with immediately after injury
  • Severe pain that is worsening or not settling
  • Symptoms suggesting the shoulder has dislocated again
  • Increasing swelling, deformity, or concern about fracture

As pain settles, rehabilitation usually progresses toward restoring comfortable movement, then strength and control. For step-by-step guidance, see our rehabilitation page.

For More Information, Go to our Rehabilitation E-Book  Guide

References

  1. NHS. Dislocated shoulder. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dislocated-shoulder/
  2. Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Rehabilitation after shoulder dislocation (Patient leaflet PDF). https://plr.cht.nhs.uk/download/1042/Rehabilitation%20after%20shoulder%20dislocation%20A4