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. Arm extension exercises with elbow flat: This exercise is performed after you gain further strength in your surgical arm. Lay down in your bed with both your nonsurgical and surgical arms flat on your side. This is the start point of this exercise. From this position, try lifting the surgical arm up, over and beyond the head 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 limb in this position for a count of 5, and relax by bringing both the surgical arm to the start point. Repeat the task for 20 times on each set of arm exercises, for a total of 3 sets a day. You can also perform this arm extension exercise with elbow straight holding small weight in your surgical arm. This can put more stress on the surgical site and so, seek suggestion from your physical therapist as to when you would be ready to make this progression.
  3. Arm extension exercises with subject inclined: This exercise is performed after you gain further strength in your surgical arm. Lay down in a recliner at 30 degrees with both your nonsurgical and surgical arms flat on your side. This is the start point of this exercise. From this position, try lifting the surgical arm up, over and beyond the head 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 limb in this position for a count of 5, and relax by bringing both the surgical arm to the start point. Repeat the task for 20 times on each set of arm exercises, for a total of 3 sets a day. You can also perform this arm extension exercise with elbow straight holding small weight in your surgical arm, which can add more resistance to the joint. You can also add resistance by increasing the angle of the recliner, which helps strengthen the joint further. Since adding more resistance puts more stress on the surgical site, seek suggestion from your physical therapist as to when you would be ready to make this progression.