Passive exercises for shoulder

These exercises require someone else to stretch your arms. These exercises should be done slowly and gently, and can be done with the patient sitting in a chair or lying down. Do each exercise ten times.

Flexion and Extension

Hold the forearm with one hand. With the other hand, grasp the top of the shoulder joint to stabilize it. Turn the palm inward, facing the body, and keep the elbow relatively straight. Move the arm from the side of the body over the head.

Abduction and Adduction

Place one hand on the shoulder, stabilizing the shoulder joint. With the other hand holding the elbow, support the forearm and turn the palm outward. Bring the arm out to the side, away from the body, as far as it will go.

Internal and External Rotation

Place one hand on the shoulder. With your other hand, hold the forearm. Bring arm out to the side to shoulder level. Turn arm so that the hand points to the ceiling. Then turn arm back down so that hand points to floor and the upper arm is twisting in the shoulder joint.

Following surgery

Following shoulder replacement surgery, a patient may require passive exercises. Passive shoulder exercises (where someone else moves the arm to rotate the shoulder joint) are started soon after surgery. Patients begin exercising on their own about 3 to 6 weeks after surgery. Eventually, stretching and strengthening exercises become a major part of the rehabilitation program. The success of the operation often depends on the condition of rotator cuff muscles prior to surgery and the degree to which the patient follows the exercise program.

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