Patient/caregiver was instructed regarding exercises to help rehab during later phase after shoulder replacement surgery as follows:
- 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.
- Active shoulder stretch exercises: This exercise is performed to increase the shoulder stretch and range of motion. Be comfortably seated in a chair in front of a worktable or kitchen countertop. Place the surgical arm on the countertop or worktable. Make sure the countertop or worktable is of a comfortable height to avoid unnecessary pull on the shoulder joint while performing this exercise. This is the start point of this exercise. From this position, slightly lean forward, slide & gently stretch the surgical arm on the countertop or worktable 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. As your stretch and range of motion increase and your surgical shoulder eases out, you can start doing this exercise by resting the surgical arm on a beach ball or basketball placed on the countertop. This helps the arm with an easy roll and slide on the ball and adds more stretch to the surgical joint.
- Sidelying external rotation: You can lay down in the bed on to your good side in a sidelying position. Keep your surgical shoulder fixed, with the elbow of the surgical arm bent at 90 degrees and against your trunk during the exercise. This is the start point of this exercise. From this position, rotate your arm outwards by moving just the forearm and hand towards the ceiling, until the hand is straight up facing the ceiling or until you experience some stiffness, limitation, or discomfort in the surgical limb. Once the hand is straight up facing the ceiling or you experience stiffness or discomfort in the surgical limb, hold the limb in position for a count of 5, and relax by bringing 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 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.
