Patient Information

CUH Logo

Mobile menu open

Shoulder range of movement exercises - active

Patient information A-Z

Exercises

Illustration of a person facing a wall with their hand above their head against the wall.
Stand facing a wall. 'Walk' your fingers up the wall as high as possible. Reverse down in the same way. Repeat . . . . times for . . . . . sets.
Illustration of a person lying on their back with their knees bent, their left hand holding their right hand over their forehead, bent at the elbows.
Lie on your back with your elbows bent. Hold one wrist with your other hand. Lift the upper arm, assisting with your other hand. Repeat . . . . . times for . . . . . sets.
Illustration of a person standing with their right arm diagonally behind their back
Stand. Bring the arm you are exercising up to the ceiling (i.e. move your arm backwards), you may use the other arm to help if needed. Repeat . . . . . times for . . . . . sets.
Illustration of a person standing with their arms behind their back
Stand with arms behind your back and hold one hand. Slide your hand up along your back, Repeat . . . . times for . . . . sets.
Illustration of a person with both hands behind their neck and elbows out to the side.
Sitting or standing, place your hands behind your neck, elbows pointing forward. Move your elbows out to the side. Hold for . . . . seconds. Repeat . . . . . times for . . . . . sets.
Illustration of a person with their hands behind their back; one from over their shoulder and one from under
Sitting or standing. Bring your arms alternately behind your neck and back. Hold for . . . . seconds. Repeat . . . . times for . . . . sets.
Illustration of a person standing with their knees slightly bent and their hand at the highest point on a door
Stand side on to a wall. Slowly slide/walk your hand up the wall and hold at the top. Hold for . . . . . seconds. Repeat . . . . times for . . . . sets.
Illustration of a person with both arms at a 90 degree angle and hands out to the side
Sitting with your elbows flexed at approximately 90 degrees, and held tightly to your sides, turn your hand outwards keeping your elbows touching your sides. Hold for . . . . . seconds. Repeat . . . . times for . . . . sets.

Non-urgent advice: Further exercises

Enter details of further exercises:







Further advice

Please be aware that this handout is to be used as a guide. If you find these exercises painful, please seek advice from your physiotherapist or GP.

Contacts

Please contact physiotherapy outpatients on 01223 216633 to leave a message for your physiotherapist or to enquire about appointments.

Document details

Approved

16 Jul 2024

Version number

4

Document ID

100849

Other formats

Help accessing this information in other formats is available. You can find out more about this service on our patient information help page.

Service / Department

Physiotherapy (Outpatient)

We are smoke-free

Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the hospital campus. For advice and support in quitting, contact your GP or the free NHS stop smoking helpline on 0800 169 0 169.

Other formats

Help accessing this information in other formats is available. To find out more about the services we provide, please visit our patient information help page (see link below) or telephone 01223 256998. www.cuh.nhs.uk/contact-us/accessible-information/

Contact us

Cambridge University Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust
Hills Road, Cambridge
CB2 0QQ

Telephone +44 (0)1223 245151
https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/contact-us/contact-enquiries/

This document was correct at the time of printing - 24-02-2025 16:59