Posterior Shoulder Stabilization Rehabilitation Program
PHASE I: 1-3 WEEKS POST-OP
Range Of Motion
- Prom : None
Sling
- Immobilized in sling with abduction pillow at all times, neutral rotation to a few degrees of ER, may be removed for exercises and showering.
- Wear sling at night.
Therapeutic Exercise
- No Pendulums
- Cervical ROM
- Begin scapula musculature isometrics / sets
- Elbow, wrist, hand ROM
- Ball squeezes
- General conditioning: bike, treadmill, etc.
PHASE II: 3-6 WEEKS POST-OP
Range Of Motion
- Gradually increase PROM
- Forward Flexion: 90⁰
- Abduction: 90⁰
- Internal Rotation: 45⁰
- External Rotation: 90⁰
Sling
- Continue to wear sling with abduction pillow at all times, neutral rotation to a few degrees of ER, may be removed for exercises and showering.
- Week 5 may begin wearing sling for comfort
- Out of sling by Week 6
Therapeutic Exercise
- Codman’s Pendulums
- Anterior Capsule Mobilization
- Submaximal pain free shoulder isometrics in the plane of the scapula
- oFlexion
- oAbduction
- oExtension
- oExternal Rotation
- No Internal Rotation yet
PHASE III: 6 - 12 WEEKS POST-OP
Range Of Motion
- Progress to near full ROM
Sling
- Transition out of sling
Therapeutic Exercise
- Begin AAROM exercises
- Pulleys
- Joint Mobilizations (no posterior glides)
- Rotator Cuff isometrics
- Deltoid Isometrics
- Initiate IR isometrics in slight ER (do not perform past neutral)
- Progress with periscapular strengthening
- Progress to AROM by Week 8
PHASE IV: 12-16 WEEKS POST-OP
Range Of Motion
- Progress to full ROM without discomfort
Sling
- None
Therapeutic Exercise
- Continue stretching and strengthening with resistance bands
- Can begin pushups
- Progress free weight exercises (low weight, high reps)
- IR/ER: sidelying
- Supraspinatus: scapular plane
- Shoulder flexion: through pain free range of motion
- Arm ergometer/cycle for endurance exercise
PHASE V: 16+ WEEKS POST-OP
Range Of Motion
- Full ROM without discomfort
Sling
- None
Therapeutic Exercise
- Begin practicing skills at a low intensity level for specific sport
- For throwers, initiate a throwing program
- Tennis may begin serves
- Total body conditioning/ergometer cycle
