Shoulder Arthroscopic Capsular Release Rehabilitation
Phase two: 3 to 6 weeks after surgery
Goals:
1. Improve range of motion of the shoulder
2. Begin gentle strengthening
Activities
1. Sling Your sling is no longer necessary unless the doctor instructs you to continue using it (use it for comfort only).
2. Use of the operated arm You can move your arm for normal daily activities without restriction, unless your doctor gives you other instructions. Avoid lifting heavy objects and avoid forceful use of the arm
3. Bathing and showering There are no restrictions unless Your doctor gives you other instructions.
Exercise Program
ICE
Days per week: 7
Times per day: 4-5, As necessary, 15-20 minutes
TRETCHING / ACTIVE MOTION
Days per week: 7
Times per day: 3-4
Program:
Pendulum exercises: 1-2 sets, 20-30 reps
Supine External Rotation: 1 set, 10-15 reps
Standing External Rotation: 1 set, 10-15 reps
Supine passive arm elevation: 1 set, 5-10 reps
Seated-Standing Arm Elevation: 1 set, 5-10 reps
Behind the back internal rotation: 1-2 sets, 5-10 reps
Supine external Rotation with Abduction: 1 set, 5-10 reps
Supine Cross Chest Stretch: 1 set, 5-10 reps
Side-lying External Rotation: 1 set, 10 -20 reps
Prone Horizontal Arm Raises: 1 set, 10-20 reps
Exercises
1. Supine external rotation with abduction
Lie on your back. Place your hands behind your head as shown in the illustration. Slowly lower the elbows to stretch the shoulder toward the second position shown. Hold for 10 seconds, then return to the starting position.
2. Standing Forward Elevation (Overhead Elbow Lift)
This exercise allows the patient to begin arm elevation actively, against gravity, with the assistance of the unaffected arm. Over several days or weeks, you will need less and less assistance with the unaffected arm, until you can raise the arm up overhead under its own strength. The starting position for this exercise is standing and looking straight ahead. The use of a mirror to help you see the exercise is helpful. Start with your hands in front of either the thighs with the operated thumb facing forward. Again, in the beginning of phase 2, this exercise is not performed solely with the operated arm, but uses the unaffected hand for assistance going up and coming down. Keep your elbow straight and extended. The operated arm is lifted forward as high as possible, or to your endpoint of pain. Try to allow the arm to rotate at the shoulder by not allowing the shoulder blade to elevate or ‘hike’. Pause and hold at the top overhead position for 3 to 5 seconds. Slowly lower the arm to the starting position and slowly repeat as shown in the illustration. As a precaution to avoid placing excessive tension on the surgical repair, avoid pain while doing this exercise, especially when lowering the arm. Use more assistance from the unaffected arm to help the affected arm through the painful arcs of motion.
3. Supine cross-chest stretch
Lying on your back, hold the elbow of the operated arm with the opposite hand. Gently stretch the elbow toward the opposite shoulder. Hold for 10 seconds.
4. Standing external rotation
Stand with the operated shoulder toward a door as illustrated. While keeping the operated arm firmly against your side and the elbow at a right (90 degree) angle, rotate your body away from the door to produce outward rotation at the shoulder.
5. Supine passive arm elevation
Continue this exercise from phase two, stretching the arm overhead. Hold for 10 seconds.
6. Behind-the-back internal rotation
Sitting in a chair or standing, place the hand of the operated arm behind your back at the waistline. Use your opposite hand to pull on a towel, as illustrated, to help the other hand higher toward the shoulder blade. Hold 10 seconds, relax and repeat.
7. Side-lying external rotation
Lying on the non-operated side, bend your elbow to a 90degree angle and keep the operated arm firmly against your side with your hand resting on your abdomen. By rotation at the shoulder, raise your hand upward, toward the ceiling through a comfortable range of motion. Hold this position for 1 to 2 seconds, then slowly lower the hand.
8. Prone or bent-over horizontal arm raise
The starting position for this exercise is to bend over at the waist so that the affected arm is hanging freely straight down. Alternatively, lie face down on your bed with the operated arm hanging freely off of the side. Rotate your hand so that the thumb faces away from you. Slowly raise your arm away from your body with the elbow straight, through a pain-free range of motion (so that your hand now has the thumb facing up, and aligned with your cheek). Hold that position for 1 to 2 seconds and slowly lower. Limit the height that you raise the arm to 90 degrees, or in other words, horizontal to the floor.
Office visit
Please arrange an appointment to return to Your doctor’s office in 6 weeks (12 weeks from surgery).
Shoulder Arthroscopic Capsular Release Rehabilitation
Phase Three: 6 to 12 weeks after surgery
Goals:
1. Regain full range of motion
2. Continue gentle strengthening
Activities:
Use of the operated arm
You may now safely use the arm for most normal daily activities. Any forceful pushing, pulling or lifting activities should continue to be avoided.
Exercise Program
STRETCHING / ACTIVE MOTION
Days per week: 7
Times per day: 1-2
Pendulum exercises: 1-2 sets, 20- 30 reps
Standing External Rotation / Doorway: 1 set, 5-10 reps
Wall Climb Stretch: 1 set, 5-10 reps
Corner Stretch: 1 set, 5-10 reps
Standing Forward Flexion: 2 sets, 10-20 reps
Behind the back internal rotation: 1-2 sets, 5-10 reps
Supine external Rotation with Abduction: 1 set, 5-10 reps
Supine Cross Chest Stretch: 1 set, 5-10 reps
Side-lying External Rotation / 1 lb.: 1 set, 10-20 reps
Prone Horizontal Arm Raises / 1 lb.: 1 set, 10-20 reps
STRENGTHENING / ELASTIC RESISTANCE BAND
External Rotation: 1-2 sets, 15-20 reps
Internal Rotation: 1-2 sets, 15-20 reps
Standing Forward Punch: 1-2 sets, 15-20 reps
Shoulder Shrug: 1-2 sets, 15-20 reps
Seated Row: 1-2 sets, 15-20 reps
Biceps curl: 1-2 sets, 15-20 reps
1. Standing external rotation
Stand with the operated shoulder toward a door as illustrated. While keeping the operated arm firmly against your side and the elbow at a right (90 degree) angle, rotate your body away from the door to produce outward rotation at the shoulder. Hold 10 seconds.
2. Corner stretch
Standing facing a corner, position the arms as illustrated with the elbows at shoulder level. Lean your body gently forward toward the corner until a stretch is felt. Hold 10 seconds, relax and repeat.
3. Wall climb
Stand facing a wall; place the fingers of the affected arm on the wall. Using the fingers as “feet”, climb the hand and arm upward. As you are able to stretch the hand and arm higher, you should move your body closer to the wall. Hold 10 seconds, lower the arm by pressing the hand into the wall and letting it slide slowly down.
4. Standing forward flexion
Stand facing a mirror with the hands rotated so that the thumbs face forward. Raise the arm upward keeping the elbow straight. Try to raise the arm by hinging at the shoulder as opposed to raising the arm with the shoulder blade. Do 10 repetitions to 90 degrees. If you can do this without hiking the shoulder blade, do ten repetitions fully overhead.
5. Side-lying external rotation
Continue this exercise from phase one using a one or two pound Weight. 10 repetitions.
Prone or bent-over horizontal arm raise
Continue this exercise from phase one using a one or two pound weight.
6. Elastic resistance band Strengthening
These resistance exercises should be done very slowly in both directions. Your goal is to achieve a maximum amount of strengthening while listening to your endpoint of pain. Obviously, we want to strengthen you throughout the full range of motion. It is very important that these exercises be done very slowly, not only when you complete the exercise (concentric), but also as you come back to the start position (eccentric). The slower the motion, the more maximal the contraction throughout a full range of motion.
- External Rotation
Attach the elastic resistance band at waist level in a door jamb or other. While standing sideways to the door and looking straight ahead, grasp one end of the band and pull the band all the way through until it is taut. Feet are shoulder width apart and the knees are slightly flexed. The injured elbow is placed next to the side with the injured hand as close to your chest as possible (think of this elbow as being a hinge on a gate). Taking the cord in the injured hand, move the hand away from the body as far as it feels comfortable (at least 90 degrees is our goal), or to where the endpoint of pain limits you. Return to the start position; if you would like, during future repetitions go a few more degrees to work more of a range of motion. - Internal Rotation
Attach the Elastic resistance band at waist level in a doorjamb or other. While standing sideways to the door and looking straight ahead, grasp one end of the handle and pull the cord all the way through until it is taut. Feet are shoulder width apart and the knees are slightly flexed. The injured elbow is placed next to the side and is flexed at 90 degrees (think of this elbow as being a hinge on a gate). Taking the cord in the injured hand, move the hand toward the chest as far as it feels comfortable, or to where the endpoint of pain limits you. Return to the start position - Shoulder Shrug
Stand on the elastic resistance band with your feet at should width apart and. Look straight ahead. Next, straighten up, keeping the knees slightly flexed, with your arms straight down at the sides (palms in). Slowly raise the shoulders in a shrug (toward the ears), then rotate the shoulders backward in a circular motion, and finally down to the original position. This movement is completed while keeping constant tension on the cord. - Seated / Standing Row
Attach the elastic resistance band in a door jamb or other. Sit or stand facing the door. Use a wide flat—footed stance and keep your back straight. Begin with the arms slightly flexed, hands together at waist level in front of your body, thumbs pointing upward, and with the cord taut. You are producing a rowing motion. Pull the cord all the way toward the chest. While pulling the cord, the elbows should be drawn along the side of the body until the hands touch the lower ribs. Always return slowly to the start position. - Standing Forward Punch
Attach the elastic resistance band at waist level in the doorjamb. Facing away from the door, stand in a boxing position with one leg ahead of the other (stride position). Do not bend at the waist and remain in an upright position. If the right shoulder is the injured extremity, you will want to grasp the handle in the right hand and step out until the cord is taut. If you use the right hand, the left foot should be forward in the stride position. Begin with your right arm at waist level and bend the elbow at a 90 degree angle, with the elbow remaining near your side. Slowly punch forward while slightly raising the right arm in a forward, upward punching motion. The hand should reach approximately neck level with the right arm almost straight. - Biceps Curls
Place your feet on the cord, shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent. Keeping your elbows close to the sides of your body, slowly bend the arm at the elbow and curl towards the shoulder. Alternate arms while performing this exercise.
Office Visit
Please arrange an appointment with Your doctor in 3 months (6 months post-surgery).
|
Phase 1 |
Per MD |
Pendulum exercises. Supine FF as tolerated. |
Stretching with physical therapist 3 to 5 times a week Stretch all planes |
No |
ROM as |
|
Phase 2 |
D/C |
Begin active-assisted and |
All planes |
Antigravity |
Avoid |
|
Phase 3 |
D/C |
Gradually improve to full ROM all planes |
All planes. |
Elastic resistance band exercises |
Continue same as above |