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. Biceps curls: Stand upright with your arms on your sides. Bend the surgical arm only at the elbow and keeping the shoulder fixed. You can choose to support the elbow of the surgical arm by holding it with the nonsurgical arm. You can hold small weight in the surgical hand, as allowed, to have the joint work against resistance. This can help with strengthening the joint further. Check with your physician on the allowance of weight you can lift with the surgical arm. You can progressively increase the weight to the limit of your allowance. Bend the surgical arm at the elbow (with or without weight) and relax by bringing it down to the start point. Repeat the task for 20 times on each set of arm exercises, for a total of 3 sets a day.
  3. Horizontal adduction exercises: This exercise can be performed by having the surgical arm out of the sling.  Being the stronger arm, your nonsurgical arm will lead this exercise. Stand upright with your arms on your sides. Then cross over your body with the nonsurgical arm and hold the surgical arm behind the elbow. This is the start point of this exercise. From this position, try crossing the surgical arm over the chest by pulling the elbow of the surgical arm with the nonsurgical arm. While doing this, try not to bend the surgical arm and keep it straight. Cross the surgical arm over the chest 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 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.