Shoulder Surgery Rehabilitation

From http://www.shouldersolutions.com/rehab_1.php,

Rehabilitation after Rotator Cuff Surgery

The type of rehabilitation and physical therapy prescribed post-surgery depends on:

• The size of the tear
• How securely the tear was repaired
• The age of the patient
• How well they are able to tolerate physical therapy

Below are the general guidelines for post-rotator cuff surgery rehabilitation:

Phase 1 (0 to 6 weeks)

• Passive range of motion exercises only for almost all tears
• Active assisted range of motion for very small tears or repairs with exceptionally good tissue

Phase 2 (6 to 12 weeks)

• Full passive motion
• Begin active-assisted motion
• Strengthen intact cuff muscles
• Begin to strengthen the muscles that stabilize the shoulder blade

Phase 3 (12 to 16 weeks)

• Passive stretching beyond the patient’s own range of motion
• Strengthening the repaired cuff muscles
• More strengthening of the stabilizers of the shoulder blade

Phase 4 (>16 weeks)

• Functional rehabilitation
• Rehabilitation for sports

From http://www.shouldersolutions.com/rehab_2.php,

Resistive Training for Rotator Cuff Muscles

This phase of rehabilitation, work will be done to increase the strength of the rotator cuff muscles that move and stabilize the shoulder. These exercises should be done with very little weight at first, and as the patient’s strength improves, the amount of weight in each hand can be increased in order to provide more assistance for the muscles.

The first exercise:

• Start with a weight in each hand with both arms at the side
• Pull both arms back as far as possible
• Hold them in position for a count of 2 seconds
• Return to the original starting position

The second exercise specifically strengthens the muscles of the rotator cuff that provide external rotation of the shoulder:

• Begin by lying on the side on either a bench of on the floor
• Start with the arm at 90 degrees and held at the side
• Externally rotate the arm as far as is comfortable
• Hold it in this position for a count of 2 seconds
• Repeat this exercise 10 times

The third exercise strengthens muscles of internal rotation:

• Begin in the same starting position
• Bring the arm down to the stomach
• Repeat this exercise 10 times

The forth exercise strengthens the deltoid muscle:

• Start with the elbow bent 90 degrees with the arms at the side
• Hold the elbow in this position
• Raise both arms
• Hold them there for a count of 2 seconds
• Return to the starting position

The fifth exercise is to increase the strength of the anterior portion of the deltoid muscle:

• Begin with the elbow extended and both arms hanging by the side
• Hold the elbow in this position
• Bring the arm straight up in a smooth arc so that the weight is held directly out in front of the patient
• Hold the weight in this position for a count of 2 seconds
• Return to the original starting position

http://www.aafp.org/afp/980215ap/980215a.html
- For the 4 exercises that strengthens the rotator cuff muscles