Stroke Recovery Exercises for Shoulders



Do exercises that will help to stabilize your shoulder. This exercise strengthens the muscles responsible for stabilizing the shoulder. You can perform this exercise 2 to 3 times a day (once in the morning, in the afternoon and at bedtime).
Lie on your back with arms resting at your sides.
Keep your elbow straight. Lift the affected arm to shoulder level with hand pointing to the ceiling.
Lift your hand toward the ceiling while lifting the shoulder blade from the floor.
Hold for 3 to 5 seconds, and then relax, allowing the shoulder blade to return to the floor.
Slowly repeat the reaching motion 10 times. (You can increase it to as many repetitions as you can handle)
Lower arm to rest by your side.


Try an exercise that will strengthen your shoulders. This exercise strengthens the shoulder muscles, including those which straighten the elbow. You can perform this exercise 2 to 3 times a day (once in the morning, in the afternoon and at bedtime).
Grasp one end of an elasticized band in each of your hands while lying on your back. Make sure to create enough tension to provide resistance.
To begin with, place both of your hands alongside the unaffected hip while keeping the elbows straight.
Move the affected arm upward in a diagonal direction while reaching out to the side and keeping the elbow straight. The unaffected arm should remain at your side throughout the exercise.
During the exercise, make sure to stretch the band so that it provides resistance.

Enhance your shoulder motion. This exercise enhances the motion of the shoulder. You can perform this exercise 2 to 3 times a day (once in the morning, in the afternoon and at bedtime).
Lie on your back on a firm surface. Interlace your fingers with the hands resting on the stomach.
Slowly raise your arms to shoulder level while keeping the elbows straight.
Return hands to resting position on the stomach.

Maintain the motion of your shoulder. This exercise helps to maintain motion of the shoulder (may be useful for those who have difficulty rolling over in bed). You can perform this exercise 2 to 3 times a day (one in the morning, in the afternoon and bedtime).
Lie on your back on a firm surface. Interlace your fingers, with the hands resting on the stomach.
Slowly raise your hands directly over the chest while straightening the elbows.
Slowly move the hands to one side and then the other.
Bend the elbows and return hands to resting position on the stomach.