Pendulum Exercise for Use With Shoulder Repair Surgeries

Doing the pendulum exercise

• Follow any special instructions you were given. If you feel pain, stop the exercise. If you keep feeling the pain after stopping, call your healthcare provider or physical therapist.

• Start this exercise with your affected arm as soon as you are told to do so:

  • Lean over with your good arm supported on a table or chair.

  • Relax the arm on the painful side. Let it hang straight down.

  • Slowly move your body so that your arm starts to swing in a circle. Then reverse the direction. Next, move your body so that the arm swings backward and forward. Lastly, move it side to side.

  • Let gravity and the motion of your body gently sway your arm. Do not use your shoulder muscles to lift or move your arm.

  • Do the exercise  3 times a day, for 5 to 10 minutes each time. Change the direction of your movement every 60 seconds.