Declaration

Permission has been obtained from the client to publish this case study. No personal identifying information has been included. This article is intended for educational purposes only and reflects one individual’s presentation and response to treatment. Every client is unique and should be assessed and treated according to their own condition by a qualified health professional.

Remedial Massage for Recurrent Shoulder Dislocation

Shoulder dislocation is one of the most common joint injuries seen in adults and athletes. Even after the shoulder has been relocated by a doctor or in the emergency department, many people continue to experience pain, muscle tightness, weakness, reduced range of motion, and fear of moving the shoulder again.

At Sparkle Beauty Spa & Massage – Hobart, remedial massage is often incorporated into the rehabilitation process after medical clearance to help restore mobility, reduce muscle guarding, and improve shoulder function.

Case Presentation

A client presented to Sparkle Beauty Spa & Massage – Hobart with shoulder stiffness, he can not lift up his arm, can not do backward movement either. And he has a long history of recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation of the right shoulder. Her first shoulder dislocation occurred approximately ten years ago while working. Since then, the shoulder had dislocated on multiple occasions during relatively minor activities, including reaching overhead, lifting light objects, and even turning in bed. Although each episode was successfully reduced by medical professionals, he continued to experience persistent shoulder instability, muscle tightness, pain around the shoulder blade, and reduced confidence using the affected arm. He had previously completed physiotherapy but still experienced recurrent muscle tension and limited shoulder function, prompting him to seek remedial massage as part of her ongoing rehabilitation.

Initial Assessment

Following medical clearance, a comprehensive assessment was performed.

Subjective Findings

• Previous first-time anterior shoulder dislocation
• No neurological symptoms
• Pain increased during overhead activities
• Restricted shoulder extension range of motion (ROM)

Objective Findings

The following areas demonstrated increased muscle tension and tenderness.

Area	Pain Scale (1–10)
Upper trapezius	8/10
Levator scapulae	8/10
Supraspinatus	7/10
Infraspinatus	8/10
Deltoid	6/10
Pectoralis major	7/10
Rhomboids	7/10
Latissimus dorsi	6/10

Shoulder flexion and abduction remained significantly restricted compared with the unaffected side. Protective muscle guarding was evident throughout the shoulder girdle.

Treatment Plan

The treatment goal was not to relocate the shoulder, as the joint had already been medically reduced. Instead, remedial massage focused on addressing the secondary muscular problems commonly seen after shoulder dislocation, including:

• muscle guarding
• myofascial tightness
• trigger points
• reduced circulation
• compensatory neck and upper back tension

Treatment techniques included:

• Effleurage to improve circulation
• Myofascial release
• Trigger point therapy
• Petrissage
• Gentle soft tissue mobilisation
• Scapular mobilisation
• Passive-assisted shoulder movement within a pain-free range
• Postural correction education

Direct pressure over the injured anterior capsule was avoided throughout treatment, trigger point therapy applied the surrounding area to release muscle tension. Meanwhile, herbal oil and infrared light were used for Thema therapy. The infrared light penetrate underneath the skin to heat up, improving blood circulation, which helps muscle recovery quicker.

After first treatment, client’s movement range improve significantly. He can do backward movement up to 45 degree.

Second Treatment

One week later, the client reported noticeable improvement.

He experienced:

• less shoulder tightness
• improved sleep quality
• easier overhead movement
• less pain while dressing
• increased confidence using the affected arm

Treatment progressed by introducing:

• additional scapular mobility work
• posterior shoulder release
• rotator cuff soft tissue techniques
• gentle stretching within comfortable limits

No signs of shoulder instability were observed during treatment. Second treatment he can handle a bit more pressure, and I applied a bit of stretching for the shoulder. Generally upper body tension release a lot.

Treatment Outcome

After 5 remedial massage sessions over a month, the client demonstrated significant functional improvement.

Improvements included

• Shoulder pain reduced from 6/10 to 1–2/10
• Increased active range of motion
• Reduced muscle guarding
• Improved posture
• Better shoulder blade control
• Greater confidence during daily activities
• Return to light gym exercise

Although occasional stiffness remained after prolonged computer work, the client was able to perform normal daily activities without significant limitation.

How Can Remedial Massage Help After Shoulder Dislocation?

Following shoulder dislocation, surrounding muscles often become excessively tight as a protective response.

Remedial massage cannot relocate a dislocated shoulder and should never replace emergency medical treatment. However, after the joint has been medically stabilised and rehabilitation has begun, remedial massage may assist by:

• reducing muscle tension
• improving local blood circulation
• decreasing myofascial restrictions
• improving shoulder mobility
• relieving compensatory neck and upper back pain
• supporting rehabilitation alongside physiotherapy
• promoting relaxation and confidence during recovery

The best outcomes are usually achieved when remedial massage forms part of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program involving medical practitioners and physiotherapists.

Conclusion

Recurrent Shoulder Dislocation can have long-lasting effects even after the joint has been successfully relocated. Pain, stiffness and muscle guarding often persist for weeks or months if left untreated.

This case demonstrates how remedial massage, when provided after appropriate medical assessment and combined with physiotherapy, may help improve shoulder mobility, reduce pain, and support recovery.

If you are recovering from a recurrent shoulder dislocation, rotator cuff injury, or shoulder instability and have been medically cleared for manual therapy, our experienced remedial massage therapists at Sparkle Beauty Spa & Massage – Hobart can develop an individualised treatment plan to support your rehabilitation.

(Note: The copyright of this article belongs to Rachel at Sparkle Beauty Spa & Massage. If you wish to share this article, please credit the original source and include the original website link. Thank you!)