The practitioner does the following: Sits facing and just to the side of the patient Puts the patient's hand on the practitioner's shoulder, keeping the patient's elbow flexed and adducted Puts the practitioner's hand in the depression in the bend of the patient's elbow (antecubital fossa) and holds the dislocated arm in place Massages the biceps, mid-deltoid, and trapezius to relax muscle spasms Instructs the patient to try to relax rather than tense up if the shoulder feels as if it is moving (relaxation is crucial to reduction using this technique) Instructs the patient to sit up straight (no slouching forward or to the side) and to shrug the shoulders back, trying to make the upper ends of the right and left scapula touch each other The shoulder slips back into place within minutes.