Immediate Action
Seek medical help immediately.
Do not move a joint that may be dislocated. Immobilize the shoulder with a sling and swath.
Never try to force a dislocated shoulder back into place. This can damage the joint cartilage, muscles, ligaments, nerves, or blood vessels surrounding the joint.
Put ice on the injured shoulder to reduce swelling and control internal bleeding.If the condition is not painful, but the unusual motion or lack of motion persists, take ibuprofen or aspirin to reduce swelling and schedule an appointment with an orthopaedic specialist urgently. Use medicines only as directed.
Prevention
Strengthening the area around the shoulder, especially the rotator cuff muscles, gives the shoulder greater stability and reduced risk of a Bankart lesion. Protective bracing is often useful to get athletes through a season by minimizing recurrent instability until it can be surgically addressed after the season.
