Shoulder Strengthening Exercises Patient Advice Sheet

Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy OCATS
Health Services at Wolves
Shoulder Strengthening Exercises

Guidance
 You have been provided with these exercises to help improve your Shoulder Strength.
 These Exercises are intended to assist with Strengthening for your Shoulder through
the rehabilitation process.
 These exercises are intended as a guide and prior to starting you should have had
some instruction from your physiotherapist at OCATS.
 The sets and reps outlined in this leaflet are intended as a guide – you may wish to do
less or more, but can progress these at your own pace.
 If you experience worsening symptoms while completing the exercises you may want
to seek guidance from your physiotherapist.
 Progress at your own pace, as your pain/stiffness allow, under the
supervision/guidance of your physiotherapist at OCATS.
Isometric Static Shoulder Flexion
Stand facing a wall. Keep your elbow at a 90 degree

right angle close to your side.
Clench your fists and attempt to push the wall away from
you.
You should gradually feel the tension in your arm

building up.
Hold for approx. 20-30 seconds.
Repeat 5 times x 3 sets

Isometric Static Shoulder Extension
Stand with your back to a wall. Keep your elbow at a 90

degree right angle close to your side.
Attempt to push the wall away from you using your

elbow.

building up.

Isometric Static Shoulder External Rotation
Stand with your back to a wall. Keep your elbow at a

90 degree right angle close to your side.

elbow.

building up.

Isometric Static Shoulder Internal Rotation
Stand with the inside of your forearm against a wall on

the inside of a door frame. Keep your elbow at a 90
degree right angle close to your side.

forearm and wrist into the wall / doorframe.

building up.

Shoulder Abduction Lateral Raise
Stand holding a dumbbell / water bottle or equivalent by your side

approx. 1kg-2kg to begin with.
Keep your chin tucked in (not poking your chin outwards) and keep
your head looking forward (avoiding looking down during this
exercise).
Gradually move the dumbbell out to the side making sure your keep
your elbow straight / fully locked out.
Go as far as you can up to the pain initially. Then gradually progress

into the painful range as you feel stronger and able - you should
expect it to be painful when doing this exercise, this is normal.
Repeat 10 reps x 4 sets Slowly return to the starting position.
Shoulder Flexion Front Raise
Stand holding a dumbbell / water bottle or equivalent by

your side approx. 1kg-2kg to begin with.
Gradually move the dumbbell up in front of you making

sure your keep your elbow straight / fully locked out.
Go as far as you can up to the pain initially.
Then gradually progress into the painful range as you

feel stronger and able - you should expect it to be painful
when doing this exercise, this is normal.
Repeat 10 reps x 4 sets
Slowly return to the starting position.
Shoulder External Rotation Side Lying
Keep your elbow tucked into your side at a 90 degree angle. Put a
towel or piece of clothing in between your elbow and side.
Hold a dumbbell / water bottle or equivalent approx. 1kg to begin

with.
Rotate your arm up and out to the side as the picture shows.
Hold at the top part of the movement for 1-2 seconds.
Slowly Lower down to the start position.
Repeat 6-8 reps x 4 sets

Shoulder Loop Lift Slides Against Wall
Put a resistance band around your wrists. Make a fist with both
hands to switch on and activate your rotator cuff muscles.
Pull the resistance band outwards approximately shoulder width

apart whilst keeping your fists clenched.
Lean against the wall with your elbows and clenched fists, slowly
raise the band above your head as far as possible.
Keep the resistance band on tension throughout the movement by

pulling it approx. shoulder width apart.

Repeat 10 reps x 4 sets
Shoulder Loop Lift Away from Wall
Put the resistance band around your wrist. Make a fist with both
hands to switch on and activate your rotator cuff muscles
Pull the resistance band outwards approximately shoulder width

apart whilst keeping your fists clenched.
Away from the wall slowly raise the band above your head as far
as possible.
Keep the band on tension throughout the movement by pulling it

shoulder width apart.
Repeat 6-10 reps If this exercise gets easier you can hold some small weights /
water bottles or equivalent to add some load to the exercise.
x 4 sets
Theraband Row with Chin Tuck Exercise
Attach a band on the back of a door handle / stair banister.

Tuck your chin in gently.
Start with band stretched out and your elbows completely locked out straight.
Row your band bending your elbows
squeezing your shoulder blades together.
Hold for 3 seconds slowly lower back to
the starting position
Repeat this
10 reps x 3 sets
Banded Pull Apart
Standing holding a moderate resistance band out in both hands in front of you.
Gently squeeze your shoulder blades together, raise your arms up until parallel with your
shoulder.
Pull the band apart as far as comfortable,
hold for 3 seconds and slowly return to the
start position.
Try and keep your arms straight throughout
this exercise avoiding to much bend at
your elbow joints.
Repeat 6-10 reps

x 4 sets
Weighted Shrugs
Either in sitting on standing up tall squeeze your

shoulder blades together.
Stand holding a dumbbell / waterbottle or equivalent .
Shrug your shoulder up and backwards until you feel
your neck muscles contract
Hold for approx 2 seconds then slowly lower back to the
starting position
Starting off with no weight then progress to the load as
able.
Repeat 6-8 reps x 3 sets

Bent Over Dumbbells Rows
Kneel or a bench or side of a bed with one knee, let the other leg
rest by your side.
Hold a dumbbell or equivalent weight with your arms fully stretched

out
Support yourself with your other hand on the bench.
Row the dumbbell bringing into yourself keeping your elbow tucked
in
Hold for 2 seconds squeezing your shoulder blade at the top of the
movement
Repeat 6-8 reps x 3 sets Slowly control back to the starting position
Final thoughts
 If you feel unwell or the exercises cause significant pain, please stop and rest. If this
continues discuss it with your physiotherapist.
 If you have any questions or concerns about any of the information detailed in this
leaflet please contact the department using the following details.
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy OCATS
Bridgewater NHS Community Foundation Trust
Martin Dawes Stand
Halliwell Jones Stadium
Warrington
WA2 7NE
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01925 946683
Date Approved: Version Number: 1

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Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy OCATS

Health Services at Wolves

Shoulder Strengthening Exercises

Stand facing a wall. Keep your elbow at a 90 degree

You should gradually feel the tension in your arm

Hold for approx. 20-30 seconds.

Repeat 5 times x 3 sets

Stand with your back to a wall. Keep your elbow at a 90

Attempt to push the wall away from you using your

You should gradually feel the tension in your arm

Hold for approx. 20-30 seconds.

Repeat 5 times x 3 sets

Stand with your back to a wall. Keep your elbow at a

Attempt to push the wall away from you using your

You should gradually feel the tension in your arm

Hold for approx. 20-30 seconds.

Repeat 5 times x 3 sets

Stand with the inside of your forearm against a wall on

Attempt to push the wall away from you using your

You should gradually feel the tension in your arm

Hold for approx. 20-30 seconds.

Stand holding a dumbbell / water bottle or equivalent by your side

Go as far as you can up to the pain initially. Then gradually progress

Stand holding a dumbbell / water bottle or equivalent by

Gradually move the dumbbell up in front of you making

Go as far as you can up to the pain initially.

Then gradually progress into the painful range as you

Hold a dumbbell / water bottle or equivalent approx. 1kg to begin

Hold at the top part of the movement for 1-2 seconds.

Slowly Lower down to the start position.

Repeat 6-8 reps x 4 sets

Pull the resistance band outwards approximately shoulder width

Keep the resistance band on tension throughout the movement by

Slowly return to the starting position.

Pull the resistance band outwards approximately shoulder width

Keep the band on tension throughout the movement by pulling it

Slowly return to the starting position.

Attach a band on the back of a door handle / stair banister.

Repeat 6-10 reps

Either in sitting on standing up tall squeeze your

Repeat 6-8 reps x 3 sets

Hold a dumbbell or equivalent weight with your arms fully stretched

Support yourself with your other hand on the bench.

Date Approved: Version Number: 1

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