Shoulder Exercises: Early Range of Movement
Patient Exercise Sheet
These exercises can be done within your pain limits however they should not increase your pain. Your pain should not be severe but a little discomfort when exercising is ok. If you experience severe pain which lasts more than 30 minutes after you stop, reduce the force or frequency with which you are performing them.
As a guide start with the number of prescribed repetitions and sets. You can increase or decrease based on your pain.
Complete these exercises little and often as pain allows.
Pendulum
1 Start by leaning forward slightly and supporting yourself using your unaffected arm.
2 Let your affected arm relax, and slowly rotate your hand in circles, both clockwise and then anticlockwise.
Active Assisted Shoulder Flexion Standing
1 Grip your hands together in front of you.
2 Use your unaffected arm to assist lifting your affected arm above your head, or as far as you are able to.
3 Then return back to the start position.
Shoulder Abduction Active Assisted with Stick
1 Start by standing and holding onto a stick on both ends.
2 Use the stick to assist lifting your affected arm out to the side.
Shoulder External Rotation in Supine with Stick
1 Laying on your back, hold a stick with both hands.
2 Keep your elbow of the affected arm tucked in by your side.
3 Use the stick and your unaffected arm to push your affected arm out to the side, making sure to keep your elbow still.
Shoulder External Rotations Active Assisted with Stick
1 Start by standing and hold onto a stick with both hands.
2 Keeping your elbow by your side, use the stick to assist rotate your affected arm outwards.
3 Repeat as directed.
