Tom Willemann Health Tips

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Shrugging Off a Shoulder Dislocation

Tom Willemann |

 
Ever see the movie Lethal Weapon?  It’s classic: Martin Riggs, played by Mel Gibson has an altercation with a bad guy and blasts his shoulder out of joint.  Being the tough guy he is, he grunts and slams his shoulder up against the car and, miraculously, puts his should back into the joint.  Not, of course, without a series of loud groaning…That might seem really awesome and something you can do yourself but, the reality is that will not work in a real life situation with a dislocated shoulder.

If you have ever been diagnosed with a shoulder dislocation, the chances are that your orthopedist will recommend physical therapy as part of a proper rehabilitation process.

A good physical therapy regimen is a great way to maintain proper alignment of your shoulder by stabilizing the surrounding muscles and tissues.  All too often the shoulder is so utilized that you always run the risk of dislocating your shoulder again. If this is to happen you might require a surgical procedure to stabilize the shoulder joint.

Surgery involves reattaching any torn tissue whether it is the labrum or other tendons and ligaments. After your surgery, you will be required to wear a sling for up to six weeks to minimize movement and allow the shoulder to heal properly.

You will likely experience pain and discomfort and will eventually start planning for your physical therapy sessions. The first couple sessions will likely be painful as there is likely to be scar tissue that will need to be stretched to allow for maximum mobility in rotation of your shoulder joint in the future.

You will begin with massage and light stretching and will work up to exercises to strengthen your shoulder muscles and increase your range of motion. Your physical therapist will likely have you back to performing at your activities in two to three months time.

Due to the fact that the shoulder is a very complex and utilize joint, it is extremely important that you take your time and work with a good physical therapy clinic that is dedicated to your long-term healing and function. If you are looking for a premise physical therapy clinic that meets these criteria, please consider calling Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation today!


 

Tom Willemann

Tom Willemann

Tom Willemann is a premier physical therapist based out of Bergen County, New Jersey. He holds an MS in physical therapy from the University of Miami, is credentialed in the world-renowned McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT), and holds an OCS (Orthopedic Clinical Specialist) certification. As of 2018, there are approximately 14,000 ABPTS certified specialists in the nation and less than 400 of them are located in the state of New Jersey. Tom is the owner and director of Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation in Paramus. He opened the clinic, which specializes in spine and sports injury prevention, in 2004 after many years of experience in the field. Tom’s caring interest in others and his strong belief in continuity of care, combined with his clinic’s ability to find solutions for the most difficult orthopedic problems, have earned Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation its excellent reputation with patients and medical professionals in northeastern New Jersey and beyond. A true “family man,” Tom takes pride in his clinic’s warm and welcoming environment.
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