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Shoulder Sprain
Treatment Options
Prevention
Sports
medicine information on shoulder sprains
Treatment
at UPMC
Treatment includes:
- rest
Avoid using your injured arm.
- ice
Apply ice or a cold pack to the shoulder for 15-20 minutes, 4 times
a day for at least 2 to 3 days. This helps reduce pain and swelling.
Wrap the ice or cold pack in a towel. Do not apply the ice directly
to your skin.
- compression
Wrap your shoulder in an elastic compression bandage (e.g., Ace bandage).
This will limit swelling and pain.
- medication
Take one of the following drugs to help reduce inflammation and pain:
ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)
acetaminophen (Tylenol)
aspirin
- brace or sling
You may need to wear a sling to immobilize your arm and shoulder.
If you play sports, you may need to wear a shoulder brace when you
return to play.
- rehabilitation exercises
Begin exercises to restore flexibility, range of motion, and strength
in your shoulder as recommended by your health care professional.
- surgery
Surgery is rarely needed to repair a shoulder sprain. However, surgery
is often needed to repair a ligament and capsule that are torn completely.
Prevention
Many shoulder sprains cannot be prevented. To reduce your risk
of spraining a shoulder:
- Do exercises to strengthen arm, back, and chest muscles.
- Learn the proper technique for exercise and sporting activities.
This will decrease stress on all your muscles, ligaments and tendons,
including those around your shoulder.
Treatment at UPMC
This condition is typically treated by experts specializing in:
Call UPMC at 800-533-UPMC (8762) to find a doctor and schedule an appointment.
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