Did you know the males in their teens and 20s are most at risk of dislocating their shoulder?
The shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in the body, its joint’s ball-and-socket structure is held together by a network of muscles, tendons, and ligaments making it more prone to injury compared to any other joint. A shoulder dislocation occurs when the arm is violently forced out and away from the body. This leads to the damage of the bone and the network of ligaments surrounding it.
When dislocating the shoulder, the recovery time and future risk of injury will be determined by how much damage occurred to the surrounding area. Approximately 25% of shoulder dislocations have associated fractures and ligament tears that increase the chance of surgery and/or prolong recovery.
Shoulder dislocations are one of the most common injuries sustained in football, the high-speed impact of tackles, falls and collisions are the primary cause of the injury. According to research, 34.5% of dislocations occur at sporting locations such as football games. With 70% of dislocation occurring in males aged between 15 and 29, it is no surprise that we see so many dislocated shoulders in NRL. Nathan Cleary’s recent shoulder injuries that he sustained in Game II of State Of Origin is a testament to this finding.
Let’s Talk Recovery
There is no such thing as a quick fix when it comes to a shoulder injury. The total time it can take to be fully recovered from a dislocated shoulder is anywhere from 12 to 16 weeks not including the damage to other ligaments and tendons. In the first few days and weeks of recovery, the arm will remain in a sling to rest, taking pressure off the shoulder while the pain settles.
At Progressive Sports and Spinal Physiotherapy, we will take an initial assessment of the shoulder and create a tailored rehabilitation plan to get you back to your pre-injury status. Once the immobilisation phase is complete, gentle hands-on physiotherapy is often the best starting point to ease shoulder pain and improve mobility. We also create a personalised rehabilitation program with gentle arm and shoulder exercises that will help reduce stiffness, relieve pain, and will start the process of rebuilding strength in the shoulder, this can include hydrotherapy.
Hydrotherapy is an effective recovery method when it comes to strengthening a shoulder and improving its range of motion. The buoyancy of the water reduces body weight and allows the muscles to relax. Due to the warmth of the water, joints and muscles slowly recover as it makes movement less painful. Hydrotherapy is considered the ultimate training and recovery tool, due to its low impact. It allows athletes to continue movement, recover faster and get back to the game they love, sooner.