Shoulder Surgery Rehab: Exercises for the First Six Weeks | Martin Kelley, DPT of Penn Rehab 

Finally, a real patient doing exercises. Most of the videos I have watched have another PT going through the motions.

Great video. I did share it with my Doc 1 week post op. He indicated the exercise with the rod, and the exercise lifting you repair are with your good arm are NOT something I should be doing till 4-6 weeks. I did do them a few times, and I had very limited ability due to pain and discomfort. I'm happy to drop them from my repetoire for a few weeks till more healing has occurred.

I wish I'd had someone like this guy advising me after my arthroplasty, it would have sped up my recovery. My physiotherapist told me (week 1) that I shouldn't wear the sling and that it was only for the first 2 days after surgery. I trusted what I was told and didn't wear the sling anymore and I accidentally moved my surgery arm in a completely "wrong way" multiple times which resulted in pain and swelling. Its now been around 7 or 8 weeks since my surgery and my shoulder is still quite stiff (still unable to lift arm past forehead level). These exercises actually feel quite good (carefully of course). If you just had shoulder surgery, I'd recommend from my own experience to wear the sling in order to protect your arm from unconscious/habitual movements (in my case it happened when throwing a blanket around my upper body). Take the sling off a few times per day and do gentle exercises/movements like the ones on this video. If you think you can be careful then take off the sling and simply be mindful until you're out of the initial recovery phase. Thanks for the great video! Helpful exercises and well explained. :)

I think the level of exercises you can do after rotator cuff surgery and when are different for each person, allowing for how badly damaged the tendons were, how many were involved and what condition the tendons were in. Each surgeon also has their own preferences about what to do & when, some are more conservative than others, so I'd say "dance with the one that brung you". For a fully torn tendon, especially with a Subscap when biceps tenedesis is involved, remember that the footprint of the repair takes 6 weeks to fully bond and another 6 weeks to gain any strength. the LAST things you want are a failed repair (cos a 2nd repair can not be as good as the first), or if it's overworked in the early stages it affects how strong the repair gets long term. My surgeon's take on passive range of motion exercises is that you never really do them without involving the damaged side to some extent, so they're not a good idea early on. She limited me to fist pumps / slow & easy bicep curls and pendulum swings for the first 5 weeks and added table slides for the next 4. PT not till 12 weeks because it's her (and my) experience that PT places can have a tendency do too much too soon. As for the abduction sling, wear it 99% of the time , except maybe when sitting on the sofa with a cushion under your elbow - and absolutely wear it at night, just loosen the straps. Think of some of the weird positions you've ever woken up in, arms wherever - your $20k surgery doesn't need that kind of excitement. A couple practical tips while we're here, I recommend to get a mesh sling for showering, put your shampoo, hand lotion etc in small pump dispensers - every little task is hard with one arm immobilized, get a few loose cheap button-up short sleeve shirts (u won't be wearing T-shirts for a while) and pickup a couple cheap back scratchers of amazon (u will thank me for this last one ). Also, if your budget allows, an adjustable bed is great investment so that u can sleep with your upper body raised, I found it much easier to sleep without the weight of my arm plus the sling pressing on my stomach so much.

I love it, I just got my surgery 3 weeks ago and I am using these exercises and I feel great ... thanks

Had my shoulder operated on (full tear rotator cuff @ NYU) 2 weeks ago.... the doctor said, keep your arm in a sling at all times & no exercises for 6 weeks .. but Im afraid of stiff elbow & shoulder

I am 5 days out and I was instructed to do only 2 exercises until PT starts. Squeeze a ball and circular arm leaning good arm on a table.

Thank you for these two videos on Shoulder Surgery Rehab. I am five weeks into my shoulder surgery and do your exercises twice a day, and have found them effective and a great supplement to my current PT routine. Your two videos are the best.

Thanks so much for these videos! I'm on workers' comp after shoulder surgery, and the insurance company is taking their sweet time getting me into PT. These videos are giving me a well guided head-start to getting my shoulder back in order.

Have watched these a few times now in preparation for op in a few days...small tear, bursitis and bone spur removal. Got a feeling these exercises will be a Godsend...Thanks in advance...

Thank you so such a clear and professional presentation of exercises. I am now 6-weeks post major rotator cuff surgery and have only started some exercises two weeks ago as per the advice by the surgeon. This will greatly add to my confidence on knowing how to do the exercises shown by the physio.

Had my fractured shoulder op on 10 Sep... about 24 days ago (just slightly over 3 weeks). Certainly not easy doing these exercises even if they look easy. We're doing this post-op, don't forget that. Working with my physiotherapist, I'm now at the stage of doing Pendulum Swing and Forward Elevation Stretch. I'm still working hard at it until I can raise my arm with surgery to 90 degrees to my shoulder.

I’m six weeks out from my surgery. I had Rotator Cuff, 3 tendons, and the bicep head repaired. I pushed trough the pain and am already stretched over my head, doing the stick and pulley over my head. Already doing active training trying to raise my arm over my head, crossover from left to right, right to left with dominos stuck on Velcro on a wall. The Physical Therapist is amazed at how well I pushed through the pain. He said I was 1 month and a half ahead of schedule!

I'm 74. 1 week post labrum tear repair, Bankart fracture repair, Sach-Hill lesion repair, long head of biceps lesion release on May 6 2024. I'm in the Kaiser system. PA follow up May 20th. Earliest PT appointment is now May 24. I got a cancelation. In the meantime with my wifes help and these video exercises maybe I can get a jump start on the rehab/healing process.

Going thru my 4th labrum surgery. Two on my left and just got my second surgery on my right. All 3 previous surgeries were failures from 2 different doctors. Worst 5 years of my life. Now Im trying my luck with a really good sports doctor based in Los Angeles who also works on all the local professional athletes such as the Angels, Dodgers, Lakers, Clippers etc... Im 2 weeks post op from my 4th surgery and am really hoping Im finally cured this time. Feels extremely tight. This video is great and very informative. Ill try all of these excercises and stretches. Thanks for uploading this

Thanks for the a dvice. I am looking foward to my surgery

You gotta ice!

I am going through this right now and i was worried because all i have is drawings of two exercises. i am to start these in two weeks on my own. After living thru the agony of the first ten days after surgery i listened to my surgeon explain this one with the pvc and his instruction said you could also do this with a towel. What? I came home and stared at the diagram and did not get how this could be done with a limp towel. After seeing this i understand the objective and in two weeks will do it with a pole or yard stick. Yikes thank goodness for this video as I am kind of on my own at this point not having any PT eval yet. The last thing i want is to wreck my surgical repair by doing these things incorrectly. People I have been through four major joint surgeries and tons of PT. Don't just watch any old PT demo to understand the home exercises-watch video from highly reputable sources like teaching university hospitals such as Penn. Certainly don't do any exercise your surgeon or PT has not told you to do. Don't try to be a type A here and exceed where you should be because you are in various stages of healing and you do exactly what they say but not more. Thank you, Martin Kelly-keep posting those videos. I am trying to return to a highly physical sport and these are giving me great guidance!

I couldnt do a couple excercises but did the majority and I felt better already. I just had my rotater cuff fixed almost 2 weeks ago and dont use my sling much. I have had 7 surgeries in my lifetime so Im used to pain. These are really helpful till I can go to do my real physical therapy classes soon.

I am at the second day after surgery and all I xan do is to exercise squeezing a ball .. great video! Thanks!

Great video!! I’m 5 weeks po and I tell you it’s very informative because I haven’t started pt. I will start after the 3rd of November

The sequence is very very good. It's my 4th week of post OP. I feel great after doing it THANX a lot 👍🥳🥳🥳🥳

thank goodness i found this video. so helpful and easy to understand.

Week one, what exercise? Week two, what other exercise? What can we do from first week to 2nd to 3rd to 4th as most safest??

Wow this is very well done, thank you very much!

Very informative. Thank you so much

I'm one week post op rotary cuff repair. Started these today very slowly so once in-office therapy begins in 3 weeks it won't be so bad.

I think this is a very informative rehab video for those that need visual guidance, or as some have pointed out, as a preparation for what to expect. However, each surgeon follows their own protocol and it would obviously vary based on the type of shoulder surgery you have (eg AC joint debridement, rotator cuff repair, bicepital tendon repair). The one concern I have with this video is the overhead stretch so early on; particularly for rotator cuff repair. PT can be expensive, even with insurance, so it’s understandable to go to instructional video. I would just suggest not pushing through the recovery process too quickly.

Thank you Dr Kelly !!!

Thank you for the tips Martin. My surgery is coming up. Looking forward to using your tips.

very impressive and informative, not to mention helpful!

Fantastic excercises , thanks 😊

I broke my scapula and I can't lift my arm thanks for this video. It stretches my arm and move a bit.

Thanks ... Really a big help....

Thank you very much for sharing ❤️

Just had rotator cuff, bicep, joint decompression and bone spur removed yesterday. Pain is tolerable as of now, as long as I keep arm still.

Iwas a very need this after surgery

My doctor didn't tell me this exercise.. now six week finished.. will start physiotherapy

I have a shoulder labral tear and a cyst on spinoglenoid notch and measures approximately 1.5 X 1.4 x 1.3 Cm. I was given a cortisone shot for pain and it has relived 95% of the pain, but the cyst is definitely pressing up on my nerve cashing severe pain when i didn't have cortisone. Doc suggested shoulder surgery but i cant do that RIGHT now. I'm seeking to try Ultrasound-guided cyst aspiration... then we can talk surgery but i'm cannot do surgery right now. I'd like to try PRP before full fledged surgery.

I’m 6 weeks recovering from Clavicle ORIF. The stick exercise is the one I have difficulty with

I am 4 week's out from bicep tendonosis surgery and stalled with excruciating pain trying get a range of motion greater than 20 degrees.

Thank you doctor

Thank you

A lot of surgeons are saying not to where a sling as it slows down progression, it worked for me.

I have passed through open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of proximal humerus. Can I do this exercise? It is 19 days from Operation. Thanks

It’s hard to go slow… I want to jump ahead and prove that I’m a tough guy. Thank God I am old enough to know that it’s not worth it - I cannot rush it and mess it up in the long run

I was only instructed to do the pendulum exercise

Wish I had seen this right after my rotator cuff surgery last year. My ortho had me in a sling for 6 weeks with minimal movements which has created so many problems.

Are all of these movements acceptable for post surgery of biceps tenodesis which is what I had.

I just had a bankart repair and my doctor is telling to wait a month for therapy to start? is this correct? I see many people go in to therapy after the 2nd week, I want to gain as quick as possible but in the correct manner, thanks in advance.

Hi, how long should I wait after the surgery before I start with these exercises?

3 weeks post surgery and I’m frustrated!!!! I want to get back in the gym, in a bad way!

Thank you so much this is of great help to me as its January I changed my insurance company which is causing a problems with getting the physical therapy at home. So I'm doing this and I thank you so much.

Week 2 since surgery. The PA took my pillow off and gave me exercises to do. Said I may not need pt. I had rcl repair incomplete tear a bone spur removal and tediomity on bicep. Is this normal. Everything I've read states pt required. Also people still have their pillows attached on sling well after 2 weeks.

Phase 1; Full AROM bicep flexion? Perhaps with shoulder more flexed to reduce strain? At least in initial half of phase 1?

I just got labrum surgery with a remplissage procedure for my hill sachs lesion on Tuesday (it’s the 3rd day since today) and I have no pain but am on this opioid called Belbuca and anti inflammatory called Sprix nasal spray. They are working so well and I am shocked at how good my mobility is already but I only got instructed to do the squeezing of the ball so far and elbow exercises until my 1 week post op where they prescribe PT. Does this sound right? I want to minimize my time in a sling. Im going to be resuming knitting on my knitting machine at the instruction of my surgeon with the affected arm when I have my post op as well so he thinks that will reduce the time in the sling

How soon after replacement to start these exercises

Should I feel this much pain? I lost all range of motion! Its like trying to bend my knee backwards.... this is terrible. Will this get better? It feels like the screws are stopping me from moving... God I want to play guitar again...

Are these exercises for someone (me) who had humerus break fixed with a plate?

Getting shoulder surgery tomorrow

Is there any video for rehab post ACL reconstruction surgery?

guy here talking all professional while sounding like Duncan Trussell

How soon following surgery is it safe to start these exercises?

Brilliant

Ive had the Larajet procedure and been told to do no exercises for 6 weeks. Does this sound correct?

It’s so clear, thanks so much Doctor, however, I have a question can I do this after AC joint surgery which in my case I still have the k wire. The doctor advised me not to do any movement higher than 40°

I am having a reverse arthoplasty with rotor cuff reattachment,,does this apply to me

You really shouldn't be doing any of those aside the wrist and elbow until after 14 days, and then you should do the shoulder PT super gradually.

are these exercises also ok for me? I had supraspinatus, subscapularis repair, acromial decompression and biceps tenodesis. or which ones shouldn't I do? it's been 2 1/2 weeks since my surgery and i haven't start doing practically any exercises. I did very little of the pendulum exercise but not much else. It's now chistmas and new year break and can't ring the clinic or speak to my surgeon, and he is on holidays. i wasn't told what i could and couldn't do before i was discharged from the hospital. could you help me?

Do you really do these exercises right after surgery? Because my shoulder hurts like hell. I cant get that range of motion either.

Hii can wo go the same protocol for post rotator cuff tear surgery?

8 weeks out, no physio just move ot as much as you can. Doing great 👍

I have closed fracture upper proximal hemus, its now 3 weeks and im feeling better. Can I do this exercise?

Can you do one to show how to get out of bed?

How soon post surgery can I start these exercises

Great! Soon I’m going to surgery, I have bankart and hills-sach, my doctor says that I’m going into sling trough 15 days, can I do some of this excercise trough these days? Or just after the first 7 days? Great video by the way!

Are those excercises also applicable in case of latarjet shoulder surgery? Thx

What if you're swelling is in your shoulder? 🤔 and pain and reduce of movement, does it mean shoulder surgery in the process? 🤔

Thanks for this video! Can exercise 2 be done while the swelling is still there?

I have osteo arthritis in my elbow of my surgery shoulder. This should be fun! Thanks for showing us.

when do you begin these exercises? only my first day.

This is beneficial for laterjet surgery?

How long after surgery until you can do this?

Does touching one's shoulder after a capsular surgery make the shoulder loose, or does it require a big trauma to ruin the results,

I’d love to try some of these but my elbow & arms are so tense it hurts a lot to move them so I’m unable to do any of these. I feel seized up. I’m not even a week out of surgery.

Would one week be too soon to be trying the 3rd exercise .

I had rotator cuff repair surgery today. how long should I be immobilized in a sling before I can begin these exercises?

Explain procedure for POST SURGERY ACL TEAR EXERCISES

I'm student of Dpt 1st year ,so can i do these exercises with a patient

Its only 6days not 6weeks but i can open/ close my fist panget hacers

Is this also for Laterjet?

How soon should I be doing these after surgery says 1st six weeks then in notes on vid says after 6weeks ?

good

On the elevation exercise what do I do if my other shoulder is frozen?

I had my surgery day before. Can I start doing these exercises?

Thank you, i don’t need to spend money for a PT. This video really great. I’m on my 5 weeks now, I broke my right collarbone.

Are these fine for the first six weeks after a Grade 5 AC Joint Seperation Surgery?

Sir can we do these exercises after 6 days of shoulder surgery or shoulder operation

🙏🏻😘

Hi, I had my glenoid labrum reattached and some cartilage repair on the socket one month ago. I have had a sling with a large cushion to elevate my elbow the entire month and I am due to start physio tomorrow. Unfortunately, I have just had a text to say that my physio isn't open due to the corona virus. I have just briefly carried out these exercises with caution, but when I attempted the exercise at 4:20 I felt a bit apprehensive as I felt a few clicks and pain when my hand was only 5 inches into the movement. Am I ok to push into the pain a bit? I appreciate you cannot make a true assessment without seeing me, but some guidance would be really appreciated. Thanks