Did you know that one of the most common injuries that occur in both sports and in our everyday lives is none other than the dislocated shoulder? Yep, it’s true — a dislocated shoulder can happen on impact while you’re playing sports, have an accidental fall, and even from overuse.
Shoulder dislocations are fairly common because the shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body which means it also happens to be the least stable. That said, if you feel pain in your shoulder, you should adopt the RICE method and rest, apply ice, compress the painful area to reduce swelling, and elevate the injury with a pillow.
Now, while we all don’t have the luxury — or time — to tend to a painful injury from the comfort of our bed until fully healed, a shoulder brace is a perfect solution for those in need of extra support and stability when you’re on the go. But with so many options on the market, how does one find the best shoulder brace for dislocations? We’ll tell you.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about shoulder braces for dislocations and how to pick the right one. Are you ready? Let’s dive in!
But First, Let’s Talk A Little Bit About The Shoulder
It goes without saying that dislocating your shoulder can be painful. Whether you take a tumble from a tall ladder while cleaning out your gutters, land awkwardly on the football field (after making an incredible catch, of course), or experience an extreme arm rotation of some sort, a resulting shoulder dislocation is definitely a possibility.
But how do you know for sure if it’s dislocated? Well, the truth is that everyone is different and what your bestie might experience when dislocating their shoulder could be very different from what you experience and vice versa. However, some of the telltale signs and symptoms that you’re probably dealing with a dislocated shoulder include:
- Swelling or bruising
- Severe pain
- Limited arm mobility
- Tingling, numbness, or weakness in the areas surrounding the injury, like your neck and arm
- An obvious deformity or appearance that your shoulder is out of place
If you think your shoulder is dislocated, whatever you do, don’t recruit a buddy to pop it back in place. We know, we know — you want to avoid the cold waiting room swarming with germs and bacteria, we get it. Besides, you’ve seen it done on TV multiple times, and anything that airs on the boob tube must be true, right? Wrong.
What you see on TV is a little thing called ‘acting.’ The actors aren’t actually popping each other’s shoulders in and out of place — but they must have some pretty legit acting skills if you were convinced otherwise!
That said, the reason why you don’t want to rely on a friend to push the joint back in place is that this can often damage the muscles, blood vessels, ligaments, nerves, and/or cartilage in your shoulder. This can lead to even more pain, ultimately worsening the injury. This will also not look as cool as it does on TV; we know, very tragic.
What a Doctor Will Do
Initial treatment for a dislocated shoulder typically takes place in the ER and involves getting the shoulder back into the socket. Depending on how bad the pain is, your doc will give you a mild sedative before manipulating your arm and shoulder to get it back into correct alignment.
You may experience quite a bit of pain here, but don’t worry; it tends to subside as soon as the shoulder is back in the correct position.
From here, shoulder dislocation treatment will depend solely on your specific condition. The doc may want to immobilize your shoulder in a sling or other device for several weeks. Plenty of TLC and quality rest are needed to allow your shoulder to heal properly. Ice should be used a few times throughout the day to help bring down the swelling. (Just do as Vanilla Ice does and ice ice baby.)
After a few days, when the pain is a little more bearable, your medical team will recommend a few exercises for you to help restore your shoulder’s range of motion. These exercises will also help to strengthen your muscles to help prevent a future injury. The healing process can take anywhere from four to 12 weeks, depending on the severity of your injury.
If this isn’t your first rodeo and you’ve experienced a dislocated shoulder in the past, your doc may ask you to wear a shoulder brace. This will help to hold your shoulder intact during the recovery period.
A shoulder brace, however, can be worn even after you’ve completely recovered, anytime you feel like your shoulder could benefit from a little extra support and stability.
How To Find the Right Shoulder Brace
What’s the best shoulder brace for dislocations, you ask? At the end of the day, no two shoulder injuries are exactly the same. So with that in mind, it’s easy to see how there are so many brace options available when it comes to shoulder dislocations.
And while we’re all about having multiple options, shopping for a shoulder brace can be really challenging — especially when you have not the slightest clue as to what you’re looking for.
Thankfully, we’re here to help make life a little simpler. Here’s a quick shoulder brace breakdown to help you choose the right one for you:
Shoulder Stabilizer
Whether you need post-op stabilization or extra support during physical activity, a shoulder stabilizer works by protecting your AC joint from further injury. These popular braces offer shoulder immobilization as well as a controlled range of motion for dislocations, muscle strains, rotator cuff or ligament injuries, and more.
As long as your doctor gives you the green light to participate in sports, a shoulder stabilizer can be worn.
When looking for a shoulder stabilizer, keep an eye out for a top-quality brace that uses lightweight, breathable, and comfortable material for all-day wear like Shoulder Saver from BulbHead!
This unique brace is truly one-of-a-kind — made with Silverprene high-tech compression material to help preserve blood flow and restrict motion. The Shoulder Saver will provide you with the stability and support you need to keep up with your tennis lessons, active job, and energetic grandbabies (or furbabies!).
The lightweight, flexible design is discreet enough to be worn on top of shirts or concealed beneath. Whatever your lifestyle may be, let Shoulder Saver help you move more comfortably.
Shoulder Sling
A shoulder sling is designed to bear the weight of your arm and prevent fatigue over long-term recovery. Ideal for cast support, injuries to the arm, wrist, or hand, this type of shoulder brace minimizes movement while the shoulder recovers.
Posture Support
Meant to wear while sitting or working, the posture support brace helps heal the clavicle bone while bringing the shoulders back to improve posture. It can easily be worn under or over your clothes.
It is ideal for those who suffer from hunched shoulders and neck pain or need immobilization of the clavicle area following an injury.
While there are many posture support braces on the market, we love Hempvana Arrow Posture from BulbHead. Made with fibers from the hemp plant, this unique brace is fully adjustable and will help you to stand up straight and tall without pain in no time.
Pain, Pain Go Away
A dislocated shoulder can really put a damper on your day. And while it might be tempting to have your bestie pop the joint back in place, you really should wait until your pal graduates from med school. Why?
Because one wrong move is all it takes to cause further damage to your shoulder, resulting in more pain and more time needed to recover. If you suspect a dislocated shoulder, seek out a *licensed* medical professional as soon as possible who can properly pop your shoulder back in place so you can get back to what matters most — your life.
As your shoulder heals, keep it supported with a shoulder stabilizer like Shoulder Saver from BulbHead. Made with lightweight, breathable, and comfortable Silverprene material with compression technology, this fully adjustable brace preserves blood flow while restricting motion to help you heal faster and comfortably.
Whether you’re tired of achy joints, looking for pain relief, or need to support your shoulder, BulbHead has what you need to feel amazing and get you back on your feet.
Check out our huge inventory of unique products today to make life simpler tomorrow.