Physiotherapy/strengthening exercises after a shoulder dislocation
Physiotherapy begins after immobilization and the doctor’s approval. First, the joint is mobilized slowly and painlessly, the tissue is loosened from adhesions and the mobility of the shoulder blade is trained. After a few weeks, targeted strengthening can then take place.
This is particularly important in the case of shoulder dislocation, as recurrent dislocations often occur after an initial dislocation, which can damage the joint in the long term and promote the development of arthrosis. It is important that lifting heavy objects or supporting and pressing with the affected arm is still prohibited several weeks after the dislocation/immobilization. Only when the doctor releases such loads may such exercises be performed.
Stabilizing strengthening exercises for the shoulder that are started are the so-called cocontractions. 1.) The forearm is placed on a pad so that the upper arm is stabilized.
Now the therapist can grasp the head of the upper arm and set resistances in different directions. The patient should tense his shoulder muscles to stabilize the shoulder head in the socket. It is important to perform this exercise in a concentrated manner and only build on it once it has been mastered safely, as this is the basis for many other exercises which the patient can then perform alone in the future.
For example, with a cocontracted shoulder, the joint can be moved in different directions, a dumbbell can be lifted while the shoulder remains muscularly fixed, or a ball can be caught. 2.) Another focus is on the dynamic strengthening of the rotator cuff.
Theraband exercises in which the rotation is trained are suitable for this purpose. In a standing position, the band can be fixed at elbow height to train the right arm to the left of the body. The right arm holds the band.
The elbow is bent 90° and fixed to the chest all the time. Now the arm is rotated outwards like a pointer and slowly moved back again. The exercise is performed in 3 sets of 15 repetitions each.
A concentrated and clean execution is essential here as well. 3. )For internal rotation of the shoulder, the Thera band is not pulled outwards but inwards from the same starting position. Further exercises for the rotator cuff can be found in the articles:
- Exercises for the rotator cuff
- Shoulder Impingement Exercises
- Exercises with the Theraband
- Shoulder joint instability – exercises
