Passive exercises for the shoulder require two people. One person gets to relax and let his shoulder be stretched while another person, the helper, manipulates the arm throughout its range of motion. Active stretches, where a person uses his muscles to move his own arm, may be done alone, but passive stretches require you to not tense your muscles, which is impossible if you move your arm on your own power.
Side to Side Shoulder Exercise
One way to passively exercise your shoulder to improve your range of motion is to move the shoulder joint in a side-to-side motion. The receiver may lie in bed or sit in a chair, but she should not stand because that will make it more difficult for the helper to do the exercise. The helper holds the person's wrist and elbow, each with one hand, while standing to the side of the shoulder that is going to be exercised. To do this exercise, begin with the arm relaxed at the side. The helper grabs the arm and lifts it up straight at the side and up to shoulder level. Turn the palm to face up. Then, the helper lifts the arm straight toward the ceiling, followed by lowering the arm to shoulder level and moving it across the chest and toward the opposite shoulder. Swing the arm back to the side where it started.
Overhead Shoulder Exercise
The overhead passive range of motion shoulder exercise works the shoulder joint's ability to flex up and to the side. This exercise is easier to do if the person is upright but not standing unless the helper is significantly taller than the receiver. To perform this exercise, the helper holds the receiver's arm at the wrist and elbow with the arm relaxed at the person's side. The palm faces inward. Then, the helper lifts the arm toward the ceiling and bends the elbow so the forearm touches the top of the head and the palm goes onto the opposite side of the head next to the ear. Next, straighten the arm toward the ceiling and lower it back to the side.
Shoulder Rotation
The shoulder rotation exercise rotates the shoulder forward and backward, up and down. To perform this exercise, the person may lie down flat or sit and the helper holds the arm of the shoulder to be exercised at the wrist and elbow. Then, the helper bends the elbow to a 90 degree angle and at the side so the elbow lines up with the side of the shoulder and the palm faces forward. Next, rotate the arm until the palm faces behind you, but do not change the angle of the elbow. Rotate the arm back up until the palm faces forward again.
Shoulder Internal and External Rotation
The shoulder internal and external rotation exercise moves the shoulder through rotation inward and outward while the arm is next to your side. To do this exercise, the helper holds the receiver's arm at her side with the elbow at 90 degrees. The elbow touches the side. First, rotate the arm outward without moving the elbow away from the body. The palm faces forward when the arm is rotated outward. Second, rotate the arm inward so the palm touches the stomach, if it can.
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