Patient/caregiver was instructed regarding exercises to help rehab during later phase after shoulder replacement surgery as follows:

  1. These exercises typically are recommended from weeks 7 – 14 after shoulder replacement surgery. Individuals undergoing shoulder replacement must consult their therapist for recommendation before performing these exercises.
  2. Passive external rotation: This is an exercise for the surgical arm, with most of the work being done by the nonsurgical arm. Individuals undergoing the shoulder replacement can be at risk for development of stiffness at the shoulder. This exercise helps with preventing excessive stiffness and relaxing the surgical shoulder. This exercise can be performed by having the surgical arm out of the sling and relaxing the surgical arm completely. You can relax the surgical arm by bending it at 90 degrees near the elbow and resting the elbow on a supportive pillow laying on to your side, with the forearm across your trunk. Holding the wrist of the surgical arm with the nonsurgical hand, gently rotate the surgical arm outwards. Rotate the surgical arm outwards until you experience some stiffness, limitation, or discomfort in the surgical site. Once you experience the stiffness or discomfort in the surgical site, hold the surgical arm in this position for a count of 5, and relax by bringing the surgical arm to the start position. Repeat the task for 20 times on each set of arm exercises, for a total of 3 sets a day.
  3. Shoulder internal rotation exercises: This exercise can be performed by having the surgical arm out of the sling.  Stand straight with your hands turned on to your back and palms facing backward. Hold a cane with your hands closest possible. This is the start point of this exercise. From this position, lift the cane in your hands further up. Lift the cane straight up until you experience some stiffness, limitation, or discomfort in the surgical limb. Once you experience the stiffness or discomfort in the surgical limb, hold the cane in this position for a count of 5, and relax by bringing both the arms to the start point. Repeat the task for 20 times on each set of arm exercises, for a total of 3 sets a day.