If you are recovering from shoulder replacement surgery, you will see a physical therapist soon after you come home. This is important, as your shoulder needs to move or it will start locking up. Below are some therapy exercises that can help you get back to normal.
Arm Pendulum
Start this exercise by bending over a table that is waist height supporting yourself with your good arm. Bend over and hang your bad arm down loosely, and slowly rotate it in clockwise and counterclockwise circles. This helps to loosen up your shoulder before you start exercising it.
Wall Slide Exercise
The wall slide exercise helps to strengthen your muscles to help with arm rotation. To do this exercise, roll up a small hand towel for you to hang on to while you are sliding up the wall. Stand facing the wall with your feet about 10 inches away from it. With the towel in both of your hands, lean over and put it on the wall. Slowly slide the towel up the wall as far as you can, and then slide it back down. At first, you will only be able to go so far, but as you heal, you will be able to go further.
Pulleys
You can purchase pulleys to help with arm rotation, and to strengthen your shoulder. The way you install the pulley system depends on the manufacturer you purchase it from. In most cases, it is attached to the top of a door. It can be adjusted for your height, depending on whether you stand or sit to pull them. Each handle should be at chest level.
Put your hands on both handles, and pull up with your good shoulder. Your bad shoulder will rise up as you do this. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then pull down with your bad shoulder, and your good arm will go up.
Stretch
Lay down on your back on your bed, couch, or anywhere else that is comfortable. Raise your bad arm up towards your head as far as you can. You will feel the muscles around your shoulder start to stretch. In the beginning, you may not have the strength to raise your arm up by itself. If not, use your good arm to help you stretch it out.
How often you do these rehabilitation exercises will depend on your therapist. In many cases, they will have you start out with a heating pad on your shoulder before you start to help loosen up the muscles before you start.
Share13 January 2015
Over a year ago, I was formerly diagnosed with high blood pressure. However, due to frequent headaches and dizziness, I had already suspected that I suffered from this serious medical problem. Immediately, I was placed on medication. I also began to research natural ways that I can lower my blood pressure. I now carefully scan food labels for sodium content. I also try not to add extra salt to my recipes when I’m cooking at home. In addition, I strive to consume foods daily that are believed to have a positive effect on blood pressure numbers. On this blog, you will learn about various natural ways to lower your blood pressure.