Shoulder Injuries in Hakuba: Assessment & Treatment

An outstretched hand or a direct hit to the shoulder are the two most common ways shoulder injuries come through our door - from clavicle fractures to dislocations to rotator cuff strains. Several very different injuries can feel similar in the first hour, so an accurate early diagnosis changes everything. WHY EARLY DIAGNOSIS MATTERS: a dislocation that's popped back into place can still hide a labral tear, and a dead arm feeling can be a nerve issue, an AC joint sprain, or a fracture. We use hands-on orthopaedic testing to narrow this down and tell you plainly if you need an X-ray or MRI back home. TREATMENT: for AC joint sprains and rotator cuff pain, most people respond well to targeted loading and taping within the same trip. For fractures or dislocations, we focus on safe immobilisation and getting you set up correctly for the flight home. GETTING BACK TO THE SLOPES: if your shoulder is stable, we'll often get you back out with strapping and a modified plan. If it isn't, we'll tell you honestly - a shoulder re-injured on the mountain is a much longer recovery than one rested properly. For the full breakdown of shoulder injuries we treat, see our Recovery Hub article: Common Shoulder Injuries We Treat in Hakuba.