3 Effective Exercises to Help You Regain Shoulder Strength After Orthopedic Shoulder Surgery

Orthopedic shoulder surgery is often the go-to intervention required to treat and manage different issues and forms of pain, such as infection, swelling, bruising, and trouble lifting and carrying objects, as it can prove incredibly helpful in alleviating these symptoms.

Shoulder surgery may be a necessary orthopedic procedure that your doctor may recommend and perform at TOPS Surgical Specialty Hospital. However, following surgery, you need to rehab your shoulder to build back strength.

Here are some great exercises to help you regain your strength:

1. Shoulder Forward Elevation

This is an excellent shoulder rehab exercise that you can perform while sitting or lying down. It’s a gradual movement that you can build up to based on your healing goals and progress.

• Clasp your hands securely in front of you and lift your arms above your head. Your elbows should be as straight as you can manage. Hold this position for 10 to 20 seconds.
• Gradually, with control, lower your arms down to your front. That makes one rep.
• Perform 10-20 reps per set and try doing three sets a day.

2. Supported External and Internal Rotations

You can perform these movements in the gym or at home using a towel or even a resistance band. You can also perform them while seated by using a table or flat surface for support underneath.

• Relax your shoulder blades, keeping them down and together. Your elbow needs to be flat on the surface beside you or at 90 degrees if it’s in the air.
• If you perform the movements on a table, slide your forearm back and forth. If you use a towel or resistance band, gently pull on it to extend it sideways.
• For an internal rotation, you should use a towel behind your back and rotate the towel back and across.
• Perform 10 reps per set and three sets in total. 

3. Pendulum Rotation

This is simple and requires you to isolate your shoulder and lean on a stable, solid surface such as a table. Lean forward on one arm and leave the arm that needs shoulder rehab dangling loose.

Perform rotations by forming circles in the air, and make sure the circles have a large circumference. You should be bending at the waist at 90 degrees to protect your spine.

Shoulder rehab can be beneficial for dealing with pain, discomfort, and injuries. If you’re struggling with shoulder pain, you can find an orthopedic shoulder surgeon at TOPS Surgical Specialty Hospital in Houston who can diagnose, set your treatment plan and manage your rehabilitation . As one of the leading hospitals in the region, we work with your doctor to provide the shoulder surgery you need to address your condition.