A neck dissection with clavicle resection is a common shoulder surgery that is often used to treat pain in an otherwise stable shoulder joint, according to the Methodist Sports Medicine Center. A common uses for this surgery is to remove weakened or disfigured cartilage, making your shoulder move more freely without pain. Rehabilitative exercises are commonly used to help restore strength and range of motion following the surgery. See your doctor if you're experiencing pain to be sure that these exercises are right for your condition.
Immediately Following Surgery
On the day following the surgery, begin passive range of motion exercises that help facilitate movement in the affected joint without using the muscles traumatized by the surgery. One of these exercises is the pendulum exercise that is performed by bending at the waist and allowing your arm to swing freely using only the force of gravity. Move your upper body slightly to make your arm swing in a motion similar to a pendulum, suggests the Institute for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.
Phase II Rehabilitative Exercises
These exercises are commonly prescribed one week to two months following the surgery, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. They are commonly used to help restore range of motion and strength in the affected shoulder. Forward flexion exercises are often prescribed during this phase. In performing these exercises, use your shoulder muscles to lift your arm straight in front of you. Other exercises often used during Phase II include internal and external rotation exercises. To perform these, bend the elbow of your injured arm to a 90-degree angle and rotate your forearm toward your body and away from your body while keeping your forearm parallel to the ground. Follow the advice of your doctor or therapist, but 10 to 20 of these exercises are commonly prescribed daily.
Phase III Exercises
This phase involves similar exercises, but with the addition of weights and sport- or work-specific exercises. The Minnesota Orthopedic Sports Medicine Institute say this phase begins when you can move your shoulder in a full range of motion without pain, and when the strength in your repaired shoulder is at least 50 percent of your other shoulder. These exercises can include flexion and extension exercises like those above, but also explosive strengthening exercises like push-ups and bench presses. Be sure that you don't experience pain when performing these exercises, and only do them at the recommendation of your doctor or therapist.
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