Shoulder Instability Physiotherapy
Rehabilitation for a shoulder that slips, gives way or feels unreliable, after any suspected dislocation has received hospital assessment.
Shoulder instability concerns joint control, not simply shoulder pain or a rotator cuff problem. The ball may partly slip out, called a subluxation, or dislocate fully. Instability can follow injury or develop without a dislocation. At our Newham clinic in Plaistow, rehabilitation can build shoulder control for work or sport. A suspected current dislocation needs A&E, not physiotherapy.
This guide is general information and does not replace a clinical assessment.
When to get urgent help
If your shoulder may be dislocated now, go to A&E. Do not try to put it back yourself. This guide is about assessment and rehabilitation after urgent medical care, not treating a current dislocation.
NHS: Dislocated shoulder- Your clinic
- Newham clinic & directions
Newham Leisure Centre, 281 Prince Regent Lane, Plaistow, London E13 8SD
- Self-pay
£60 for a 30-minute physiotherapy appointment.
Prices & self-pay- Health insurance
Cover depends on your plan and chosen physiotherapist.
Insurance & cash-plan guidance
Common Symptoms
A repeated slipping, giving-way or loose sensation in the shoulder.
Apprehension when reaching overhead or placing the arm in particular positions.
Pain and reduced confidence using the arm following a previously assessed dislocation.
Difficulty returning to throwing, swimming, contact sport or overhead work.
Seek Prompt Medical Advice If You Have
Go to A&E for a suspected current dislocation, especially a changed shoulder shape or inability to move the arm after injury.
Do not try to put the shoulder back yourself; call 999 if you cannot get safely to A&E.
Seek urgent medical assessment for new loss of feeling, marked weakness or a cold or discoloured hand after injury.
Obtain prompt medical review after another slipping injury, including when the shoulder seems to have gone back by itself.
If you are unsure, call NHS 111 or seek urgent medical care.
Assessment
Discuss previous dislocations, hospital treatment, surgery and any current movement restrictions.
Explore the movements that trigger slipping and how this affects dressing, work or exercise.
Assess shoulder movement, muscle strength and control without deliberately provoking a dislocation.
Consider general joint looseness, associated injury and whether orthopaedic review is needed.
Treatment
Agree temporary changes to positions and activities that repeatedly make the shoulder feel unstable.
Develop an exercise programme for shoulder and shoulder-blade strength, coordination and control.
Rehearse progressively more demanding reaching, lifting or sporting tasks as stability improves.
Follow the treating team's rehabilitation protocol after surgery and seek review for recurrent slipping.
Aftercare & self-management
At your appointment, agree which exercises to do, how often to practise them and when to review your progress.
Practise the agreed home exercises; keep a note of slipping episodes and what triggered them.
Do not repeatedly demonstrate the shoulder slipping or force stretches into vulnerable positions.
Follow your hospital's sling and movement instructions rather than using a general online timetable.
Ask before returning to heavy overhead work or contact sport, even if everyday pain has settled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a slipping shoulder the same as a dislocation?+
A subluxation is partial loss of joint contact; a dislocation is complete. Sensations alone cannot confirm which occurred. A new suspected dislocation needs hospital assessment before rehabilitation.
Can physiotherapy stop recurrent shoulder instability?+
Exercise can improve support and control, but cannot guarantee no further episodes. Repeated dislocations or suspected structural damage may need imaging and an orthopaedic opinion alongside rehabilitation.
Should I stretch a shoulder that already feels loose?+
More flexibility is not automatically helpful. Treatment often emphasises control and strength rather than forcing extra movement. After stabilisation surgery, follow the specific restrictions supplied by your surgeon and physiotherapist.
When can I return to overhead sport?+
Return depends on the injury, any operation, strength and control during relevant tasks. A pain-free day alone is not clearance for full training or competition.
Related Pages
Explore related treatments and condition guides.
Further reading
For public health information, self-care guidance and advice on when to seek medical help:
- NHS: dislocated shoulder
- University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS: shoulder instability and dislocation
- AAOS OrthoInfo: chronic shoulder instability
About your care at Nexus: meet our physiotherapists and read our clinical governance information.