Strengthening: Upper Extremity Exercises with an Exercise Band

Patient instructions:

The exercises below use an exercise band or tube for active resistance. This will build strength in your muscles. Your therapist will tell you how long to hold each exercise, how many times you should repeat each one, and how many times you should perform the exercises each day.

Chest pulls	Sit or stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Loop the band around each hand. With your arms straight out in front, stretch the tubing across your chest.
Should strengthening upward	Stand with the band around each hand. Bring one arm up and across your body.
Shoulder strengthening: downward	Stand and hold the band above your head. Bring one arm down across the front of the body.
Shoulder cross stretch	Stand with your arms crossed above your head, while holding the resistive band. Bring your front arm down and across your body.
Please attach band to a stable surface to complete the following exercises:
Shoulder flexion	Start with your arm at your side and the band in your hand. Pull forward and upward. Move your shoulder through your full range of motion. Stop if you feel pain.
Shoulder side pull (abduction)	Start with your arm across the body, while holding the band in one hand. Pull away from your side. Move through full range of motion. Stop if you feel pain.
External rotation	Hold the band in one hand with your elbow bent in at your side. Rotate your arm outward away from your body. Be sure to keep your forearm parallel to the floor.
Shoulder extension	Hold the band in one hand. Pull your arm back with a straight elbow.
Shoulder adduction	Hold the band in one hand. Pull your arm in toward your buttock. You should stand far enough from the band that you feel resistance. Do not twist or rotate your trunk.
Raised shoulder abduction	With your arm raised in front to shoulder height, hold the band in one hand. Pull your arm across your body. Stop if you feel pain.
Raised shoulder adduction	Hold the band in one hand. Raise your arm out to the side at shoulder height. Bend your elbow at 90 degrees and pull your forearm across your body. Stop if you feel pain.
Functional activities: serving and throwing	Hold the band behind you and above the level of your shoulder. Pull across body as though serving in tennis or throwing a ball.