Following a procedure, your physiotherapist may advise you on specific exercises that will aid your rehabilitation process. A series of video resource is available to help to show you how to do these individual exercises and can be viewed by clicking on the links below.
Post-op videos
Introduction video
Stage 1: Introduction video
The following exercises are designed to be performed under the guidance of a member of the therapy team. They will direct you to the videos that are relevant to your rehabilitation and care.
During your operation, your surgeon will decide on a range of movement that you can move your shoulder in without causing any significant stress on the surgical repair. This is called the safe zone. It is there to give you confidence to perform your exercises. The inpatient therapy team will educate you on what your safe zone is and your outpatient physiotherapist will progress and guide your future rehabilitation.
It is therefore, important that when you perform the following exercises that you move your shoulder through your safe zone range of movement. If you are unsure and require further advice and support, please discuss this with your physiotherapist.
Early stage post operative rehabilitation videos
Stage 1: SAD
Subacromial decompression plus or minus excision of the distal clavicle
Stage 1 – physiotherapy advice and exercises.
You should aim to perform the following exercises three times a day. Perform 10 repetitions and have a rest for a minute. Then repeat a further 10 times.
It is normal for you to feel aching, discomfort or stretching sensations when doing these exercises. If you experience intense and lasting pain (E.G. more than 30 minutes) do it less forcefully or less often. If this does not help, discuss the problem with the physiotherapist.
Exercise 1 – seated table slides
In sitting, rest your hands on a table and using duster similar object slide your hands away from your body, taking both hands forward as far as comfortable and then return to the start position.
Exercise 2 – Shoulder Flexion
Two examples have been provided. Try both exercises and find the one that is most comfortable for you and perform that one.
Option 1.
Lie on your back with your knees bend and feet flat and have your head supported if needed.
If you are unable to lie flat then you can perform this exercise in sitting high, lying with pillows for support or standing.
Hold a stick or similar object should width apart starting with the stick resting on your thighs. Have your arms with a straight elbow and raise above your head, then return to the start position.
Option 2.
Place both hands on a counter or table top. Walk away from the counter as you keep your hands still. Walk as far away as you are able to or your physiotherapist has advised you to. Then return to the start position.
Exercise 3 – Shoulder external rotation
In sitting with your elbows supported on a table. Hold a stick or similar object. Use your unaffected arm to push the stick outwards to rotate you operated arm out as far as you are able to. And return to the start position.
Stage 1. Arthoscopic capsular release and manipulation under anaesthesia
Stage 1 – physiotherapy advice and exercises.
You should aim to perform the following exercises three times a day. Perform 10 repetitions and have a rest for a minute. Then repeat a further 10 times.
It is normal for you to feel aching, discomfort or stretching sensations when doing these exercises. If you experience intense and lasting pain (E.G. more than 30 minutes) do it less forcefully or less often. If this does not help, discuss the problem with the physiotherapist.
Exercise 1 – seated table slides
In sitting, rest your hands on a table and using duster similar object slide your hands away from your body, taking both hands forward as far as comfortable and then return to the start position.
Exercise 2 – Shoulder Flexion
Two examples have been provided. Try both exercises and find the one that is most comfortable for you and perform that one.
Option 1.
Lie on your back with your knees bend and feet flat and have your head supported if needed.
If you are unable to lie flat then you can perform this exercise in sitting high, lying with pillows for support or standing.
Hold a stick or similar object should width apart starting with the stick resting on your thighs. Have your arms with a straight elbow and raise above your head, then return to the start position.
Option 2.
Place both hands on a counter or table top. Walk away from the counter as you keep your hands still. Walk as far away as you are able to or your physiotherapist has advised you to. Then return to the start position.
Exercise 3 – shoulder abduction
Lie on your back with your knees bend and feet flat and have your head supported if needed.
If you are unable to lie flat then you can perform this exercise in sitting high, lying with pillows for support or standing.
Hold a stick or similar object shoulder width apart and with the unaffected arm push the stick, moving the operative arm away from the body in a diagonal movement up and out to the side and then return to the start position.
Exercise 4- Shoulder external rotation
In sitting start with your arm on your tummy and keeping your elbow bent at 90 degrees hold a stick of similar object.
Keeping your elbows at your side, use your unaffected arm to push the stick outwards to rotate your operated arm out as far as you have been advised by you physiotherapist. And return to the start position.
You may find it more comfortable to support your arm on a pillow.
Stage 1. Small to medium RCR
Stage 1 – Physiotherapy advice and exercises
You should aim to perform the following exercises three times a day. Perform 10 repetitions and have a rest for a minute. Then repeat a further 10 times.
It is normal for you to feel aching, discomfort or stretching sensations when doing these exercises. If you experience intense and lasting pain (E.G. more than 30 minutes) do it less forcefully or less often. If this does not help, discuss the problem with the physiotherapist.
Exercise 1 – Seated table slides
In sitting, rest your hands on a table and using duster similar object slide your hands away from your body, taking both hands forward as far as comfortable and then return to the start position.
Exercise 2 – Short leaver active assisted shoulder flexion
Lying on your back with your arms supported and your elbow bent at 90 degrees, lift your arm up with the support of your unaffected arm.
Keep your elbow bent, and return to start position. If you have pain on the way back down, gently press your elbow into your opposite hand.
Exercise 2, option 2 – Active assisted external rotation to neutral
Start with your arm on your tummy and keeping your elbow bent at 90 degrees hold a stick or similar object. Keeping your elbows in at your side, use your unaffected arm to push the stick outwards, to rotate your operated arm out as far as you have been advised by your physiotherapist. Then return to the start position.
You may find it more comfortable to support arm on a pillow.
Stage 1. Large rotator cuff repair
Stage 1 – Physiotherapy advice and exercise
You should aim to perform the following exercises three times a day. Perform 10 repetitions and have a rest for a minute. Then repeat a further 10 times.
It is normal for you to feel aching, discomfort or stretching sensations when doing these exercises. If you experience intense and lasting pain (E.G. more than 30 minutes) do it less forcefully or less often. If this does not help, discuss the problem with the physiotherapist.
Exercise 1 – Seated table slides
In sitting, rest your hands on a table and using duster similar object slide your hands away from your body, taking both hands forward as far as comfortable and then return to the start position.
Exercise 2 – Short leaver active assisted shoulder flexion
Lying on your back with your arms supported and your elbow bent at 90 degrees, lift your arm up with the support of your unaffected arm.
Keep your elbow bent, and return to start position. If you have pain on the way back down, gently press your elbow into your opposite hand.
Two examples have been provided for exercise 3. Try both exercises and find the one that is most comfortable for you – then perform that one.
Please note: option 2 is performed in lying. However, if you are unable to lay flat you can perform the exercise seated, standing of high lying with pillows for support. Find the position that is most comfortable to you.
Exercise 3, option 1 – External rotation in sitting
Start with your arm on your tummy and keeping your elbow bent at 90 degrees hold a stick or similar object. Keeping your elbows in at your side, use your unaffected arm to push the stick outwards, to rotate your operated arm out as far as you have been advised by your physiotherapist. Then return to the start position.
You may find it more comfortable to support arm on a pillow.
Exercise 2 – External rotation in supported lying
Lying on your back with your arms supported and your elbow bent at 90 degrees, lift your arm up with the support of your unaffected arm.
Keep your elbow bent, and return to start position. If you have pain on the way back down, gently press your elbow into your opposite hand.
Stage 1. Reverse and total shoulder replacements
Stage 1 – Physiotherapy advice and exercise
You should aim to perform the following exercises three times a day. Perform 10 repetitions and have a rest for a minute. Then repeat a further 10 times.
It is normal for you to feel aching, discomfort or stretching sensations when doing these exercises. If you experience intense and lasting pain (E.G. more than 30 minutes) do it less forcefully or less often. If this does not help, discuss the problem with the physiotherapist.
Exercise 1 – Seated table slides
In sitting, rest your hands on a table and using duster similar object slide your hands away from your body, taking both hands forward as far as comfortable and then return to the start position.
Please note: the following exercise is performed in lying. However, if you are unable to lay flat you can perform the exercise seated, standing of high lying with pillows for support. Find the position that is most comfortable to you.
Exercise 2 – Short leaver active assisted shoulder flexion
Lying on your back with your arms supported and your elbow bent at 90 degrees, lift your arm up with the support of your unaffected arm.
Keep your elbow bent, and return to start position. If you have pain on the way back down, gently press your elbow into your opposite hand.
Exercise 3, option 1 – Active assisted external rotation
Start with your arm on your tummy and keeping your elbow bent at 90 degrees hold a stick or similar object. Keeping your elbows in at your side, use your unaffected arm to push the stick outwards, to rotate your operated arm out as far as you have been advised by your physiotherapist. Then return to the start position.
You may find it more comfortable to support arm on a pillow.
Exercise 3, option 2 – Active assisted external rotation
This exercise can be completed in sitting or lying.
Stage 1. Latarjet
Stage 1 – Physiotherapy advice and exercise
You should aim to perform the following exercises three times a day. Perform 10 repetitions and have a rest for a minute. Then repeat a further 10 times.
It is normal for you to feel aching, discomfort or stretching sensations when doing these exercises. If you experience intense and lasting pain (E.G. more than 30 minutes) do it less forcefully or less often. If this does not help, discuss the problem with the physiotherapist.
Exercise 1 – Seated table slides
In sitting, rest your hands on a table and using duster similar object slide your hands away from your body, taking both hands forward as far as comfortable and then return to the start position.
Exercise 2 – Shoulder flexion
Place both hands on a counter or table top. Walk away from the counter as you keep your hands still. Walk as far away as you are able to or your physiotherapist has advised you to. Then return to the start position.
Exercise 3, option 1 – Active assisted external rotation
Start with your arm on your tummy and keeping your elbow bent at 90 degrees hold a stick or similar object. Keeping your elbows in at your side, use your unaffected arm to push the stick outwards, to rotate your operated arm out as far as you have been advised by your physiotherapist. Then return to the start position.
You may find it more comfortable to support arm on a pillow.
Exercise 3, option 2 – Active assisted external rotation
This exercise can be completed in sitting or lying.
Physiotherapy rehabilitation exercises videos
Intermediate rehabilitation videos
Intermediate – Theraband flexion in standing
In standing, place your feet hip width apart. Bend your elbows to 90 degrees and loop a resistance band around both hands and gently push out with the backs of your hands against the resistance band to activate the muscles in the back of your shoulder.
Raise your arms up in one smooth movement, straightening your elbows and finishing with your hands above your head. Hold at the top and slowly return to the starting position.
Intermediate – Theraband loop step forwards
In standing using a theraband loop have the elbows in an extended position, the loop wrapped around both hands. Then applying gentle tension raise the arms above the head, gently striding forwards with alternate legs during the movement.
Intermediate – Sit to stand with theraband
Sit on a chair, placing a resistance band loop around your hands, keeping your elbows bent. Gently push out with the backs of your hands against the resistance band to activate the muscles in the back of your shoulder. As you stand from the chair, raise both arms up into full elevation. Return to the start position, keeping the resistance on the band throughout the movement.
Intermediate – External rotation with weight in side lying
Lying on your unaffected side. Bend your affected arm to 90 degrees and place a towel, rolled up, between your arm and your torso.
Holding a small weight and keeping your upper arm tucked in at your side move your hand away from your tummy and upwards as demonstrated in the video, then return to the start position.
Early rehab – Weighted balance point
Lying on your back with your knees bend and your feet flat and head supported. From your elbow in a bent, extend the elbow to raise the arm up towards the ceiling. From this position then gently sway the arm backwards and forwards in an ark, as show in the video. Then turn the arm back to the starting position.
Range of movement videos
Early rehab – Thigh slides
In sitting, place your hands on your thighs, rotate your torso from side to side allowing your hand to slide down on your thigh.
Early rehab – Thoracic spine rotations in sitting
Sitting on a high back chair with your arms crossed, rotate your body from left to right through the range as demonstrated in the video.
Early rehab – Seated table slides
In sitting, rest your hands on a table and using duster similar object slide your hands away from your body, taking both hands forward as far as comfortable and then return to the start position.
Early rehab – Ball rolls in to flexion
Standing with one foot in front of the other and facing a table place your hands on the ball. Keeping your hands on the ball roll the ball away from you, transferring your weight from the back to the front leg and return to the start position.
Early rehab – Shoulder dissociation
Place both hands on a counter or table top, walk away from the counter as you keep your hands still. Walk as far away as you are able to, or as far away as your physiotherapist has advised you to and return to the start position.
Early rehab – Ball squats flexion
In standing, place a physiotherapy ball onto a table or bed. Now place both hands on top of the ball, bend your knees into a squat position, whilst your hands remain on the top of the ball and then return to the starting position.
Early rehab – AAROM PROM short lever
Lying on your back, with your knees bent and your feet flat and your head supported. Use your unaffected arm to give support to your affected arm. Keeping the elbow bent at 90 degrees. Raise the arm upwards, above the head and return back to the starting position.
Early rehab – Active elbow flexion
Lying on your back, with your knees bent and your feet flat and your head supported. Using your unaffected arm, raise the affected arm with the elbow bent at 90 degrees. Once in this position then bend and straighten the elbow, taking the hand to the forehead, chin and the chest depending upon the progression of the exercise and then lower the hand to the starting position.
Early rehab – Short to long lever flexion
Lying on your back, with your knees bent and your feet flat and your head supported on a pillow if needed. Bend your elbow to 90 degrees, and then using your unaffected arm keeping your elbow bent lift your arm to 90 degrees then straighten your elbow and take the arm over your head. Then the arm back to 90 degrees and lower to the start position.
Early rehab – Supine flexion circles
Lying on your back, with your knees bent and your feet flat and your head supported. Use your unaffected arm to raise the affected arm to 90 degrees and then perform small circles in an anti-clockwise and clockwise directions, before then lowering the arm back to the start position.
Early rehab – AAROM flexion
Lying on your back, with your knees bent and your feet flat and your head supported if needed. If you’re unable to lie flat, then you can perform this exercise in sitting high, lying with pillows for support or standing. Hold a stick or similar object shoulder width apart , starting with the stick resting on thighs. Have your arms with a straight elbow and raise above your head and return to the start position.
Early rehab – Ball rolls in to abduction
In standing, place an exercise ball on a table or bed. Now stand next to the ball, with the hand of your affected shoulder resting on the ball. Roll the ball out to the side, transferring your weight towards the ball, return your weight to the starting position.
Early rehab – Active short lever abduction
Lying on your unaffected side with your head supported. Bend the affected arm to 90 degrees, then raise the arm away from the body and return back to the start position.
Intermediate – Supported external rotation
In sitting with your elbows supported on a table. Hold a stick or similar object. Use your unaffected arm to push the stick outwards to rotate you operated arm out as far as you are able to. And return to the start position.
Early rehab – Active external rotation
Sit with your elbows bent at 90 degrees, and keeping them tucked in at your side, rotate your arms outwards. Taking both hands from each other during the movement.
Early rehab – PROM AAROM
Start with your arm on your tummy and keeping your elbow bent at 90 degrees hold a stick or similar object. Keeping your elbows in at your side, use your unaffected arm to push the stick outwards, to rotate your operated arm out as far as you have been advised by your physiotherapist. Then return to the start position.
You may find it more comfortable to support arm on a pillow.
Intermediate – Sleeper stretch
Lying on your affected side, with your elbow bent and your arm raised to 90 degrees as shown in the video. Use your unaffected arm to then rotate the affected shoulder down towards the bed. Hold for the count of 10 seconds and then return back to the start position.
Post-op protocol
- ACJ stabilisation protocol
- Arthroscopic subacromial decompression
- Arthroscopic Capsular Release
- Distal biceps repair
- Inspace balloon spacer post-op
- Laterjet and bankart
- ORIF proximal humerus
- Physiotherapy guidelines
- Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty
- Rotator cuff repair large
- Rotator cuff repair small
- Shoulder hemi-arthroplasty
- Total shoulder arthroplasty