Regardless of which type of shoulder surgery you’re having, the goal is the same—to help you feel, move, and live better. To facilitate this, your shoulder surgeon will recommend physical therapy, which incorporates exercises that are aimed at improving the flexibility, range of motion, and mobility of your shoulder.
Let’s take a look at some postoperative exercises that are typically recommended to patients recovering from shoulder surgery.
Pendulum
Bend forward at a 90-degree angle, allowing your operated arm to hang loosely from your shoulder. Next, rotate your operated arm slowly ten times. Stop, rest, and rotate your arm in the opposite direction.
Shoulder Elevation
Lie flat on your back. Clasp your hands, then bring both of your arms above your head as far as possible. Repeat ten to fifteen times.
Your physical therapist can help you with this maneuver early on in your recovery.
Isometric Internal Rotation
Stand at a corner in a hallway or entrance to a room. Put your operated arm against the wall, keeping your elbow at a 90-degree angle. Next, push your palm against the wall. Hold for five seconds. Rest, then do it again up to ten times.
Isometric External Rotation
Stand with your heels and back against a wall. Bend your operated arm at a 90-degree angle. Slowly lower your forearm arm, so the back of your hand touches the wall. Hold for five seconds. Repeat ten times.
Shoulder Abduction
Stand with both of your feet flat on the floor. Your hands should be at your sides. Slowly raise your operated arm to shoulder level. Repeat this slowly three times.
Isometric Shoulder Adduction
Put a small pillow between your upper arm, just a bit below your armpit, and the side of your chest. Next, slowly squeeze the pillow, hold for five seconds, and then release. Repeat this ten times.
Wall Walk
To perform this type of exercise, stand in a doorway. Next, place your hand on your operated arm, and use your fingers to crawl up the frame slowly as far as possible. Hold for ten seconds, and gently crawl down. Repeat this five times.
Shoulder Surgery in Baltimore, MD
At Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder, our board-certified shoulder specialists take pride in their extensive experience, unparalleled expertise, genuine compassion, and unwavering commitment to delivering the highest quality of non-surgical and surgical care. We have helped countless patients in Baltimore and neighboring areas successfully regain their normal function and ultimately live an excellent quality of life, so you can trust us that we can help you as well!
To arrange an appointment with one of our shoulder specialists at one of our seven locations, call us at (410) 296-6232. You may also fill out this form to request an appointment.
