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How to Reduce a Dislocated Shoulder

A person with a dislocated shoulder will be in a great deal of pain and unable to bring the arm up to the chest. Dislocated shoulders are often recurring and the injured person can help the rescuer reduce the shoulder.

Things You'll Need

  • White Cloth
  • Slings
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Instructions

  1. Preparation

    • 1

      Calm the injured person down, making him as comfortable and relaxed as possible.

    • 2

      Determine quickly whether or not reducing the dislocation (putting the bones back in line) is necessary (see "How to Decide Whether or Not to Reduce a Dislocation").

    • 3

      If reduction of the dislocation is necessary, calmly walk the injured person through each step, securing his agreement and cooperation.

    • 4

      Enlist the help of another rescuer.

    Reduction and Slinging

    • 5

      Position the injured person so that he is lying on his back. It's ideal to have the person lie about waist high on something like a table, but this may require some creativity in a wilderness setting.

    • 6

      Position one rescuer on the uninjured side, facing the injured person.

    • 7

      Have this rescuer slide a piece of cloth or webbing under the injured person, and wrap one end around the injured person's chest so that both ends of the cloth meet below his armpit. This rescuer should pull on both ends firmly like handles, being careful not to tickle the injured person and make him laugh.

    • 8

      Position the second rescuer next to the dislocated shoulder, facing the injured person.

    • 9

      Bend the elbow of the arm connected to the dislocated shoulder so that the fingertips are pointing skyward and the arm is at a 90-degree angle from the body.

    • 10

      Have the second rescuer pull gently but firmly on the bent elbow, pulling the shoulder away from the injured person's body while maintaining the forearm at a 90-degree angle from the body. The first rescuer on the opposite side will be pulling against the force of the second rescuer.

    • 11

      Have the second rescuer gently rotate the arm on the shoulder joint as if the injured person is trying to throw a baseball. Move the arm slowly back and forth maintaining steady tension until the shoulder slides back into place.

    • 12

      Immobilize the arm by putting it in a sling across the chest after the reduction is completed (see "How to Make a Sling").

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