Shoulder passive range of motion (PROM) exercises involve moving your shoulder through its various ranges of motion, which include flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal rotation and external rotation, without any voluntary assistance. According to Physiotherapy-Treatment.com, shoulder PROM exercises are important because they can reduce shoulder pain, improve a shoulder's mobility and reduce the number of adhesions and the amount of scar tissue laid down following a shoulder injury. Another person can assist you with shoulder PROM exercises, but you can also perform these exercises yourself, using a 2 to 3-foot long wooden rod or dowel.
Flexion & Extension
According to the University of Michigan Health System, shoulder flexion is a forward excursion of your arm, and shoulder extension is movement of your arm in a posterior direction. Perform your shoulder flexion and extension PROM exercises by using a 2 to 3-foot long, flat-ended rod or dowel. With your affected-side arm dangling freely at your side, grip one end of your dowel using your unaffected-side hand. Place the other end of the dowel in the palm of your affected-side hand. This is the starting position. Using your unaffected-side hand, arm and shoulder, slowly and smoothly lift your affected-side arm in front of your body until you've reached your shoulder flexion end range of motion, keeping your affected-side arm as straight as possible and taking care not to use any arm or shoulder muscles on your affected-side to assist your movement. Slowly return to your starting position. Perform 25 repetitions of this exercise, three times per week.
Perform the shoulder extension PROM exercise by returning to your starting position. Turning your palm over to face forward, and keeping your affected-side arm as straight as possible, use the dowel to direct the affected-side hand and arm behind your body until you reach your shoulder extension end range of motion. Perform 25 repetitions of this exercise, three times per week.
Abduction and Adduction
Shoulder abduction is accomplished by moving your arm away from the side of your body, whereas shoulder adduction involves moving your arm toward or across the front of your body. Your shoulder abduction and adduction PROM exercises also use a rod or wooden dowel to passively guide the affected-side arm. Assume the same starting position that you did for the shoulder flexion PROM exercise. Using the unaffected-side hand, arm and shoulder, slowly and smoothly lift your affected-side arm away from the side of your body until you have reached your shoulder abduction end range of motion, keeping your affected-side arm straight and taking care not to use any arm or shoulder muscles on your affected side to assist your movement. Slowly return to your starting position. Perform 25 repetitions of this exercise, three times per week.
Perform the shoulder adduction PROM exercise by returning to the starting position. Instead of using the unaffected-side hand to push the affected-side palm, lightly grip the dowel with the affected-side hand and use the unaffected-side hand to gently pull your injured arm and shoulder across your body until you reach your shoulder adduction end range of motion. Keep your affected-side arm straight during the movement. Perform 25 repetitions of this exercise, three times per week.
External & Internal Rotation
Shoulder external rotation involves a rotation of the humerus away from the body, whereas shoulder internal rotation involves a rotation of the humerus toward the body. The dowel or rod also can be used for these shoulder PROM exercises. Bend the affected side elbow to 90 degrees and tuck the elbow against the side of your body, where it will remain for the duration of your exercise. Your affected-side hand should be in line with your navel. Perform the shoulder external rotation PROM exercise by gripping one end of the dowel with your unaffected-side hand. Lightly grasp the other end of your dowel with your affected-side hand. This is your starting position. Using your unaffected-side hand, arm and shoulder, slowly and smoothly rotate the affected-side arm away from the body until you have reached your shoulder external rotation end range of motion, taking care not to use any arm or shoulder muscles on your affected-side to assist your movement. Perform the shoulder internal rotation PROM exercise by using the unaffected-side hand to pull your other hand back toward your navel and the starting position. Perform 25 repetitions each of your shoulder internal and external rotation PROM exercises, three times per week.
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