Upper Extremity Exercise: Horizontal Shoulder Abduction

These instructions are for  patients recommended to perform horizontal shoulder abduction, which is a side-to-side movement across the body.

Patient instructions: horizontal shoulder abduction

Upper Extremity Exercise: Horizontal Shoulder Abduction

  1. Hold your affected arm by clasping your hands together or by cradling the arm.

  2. Reach forward with your arms.

  3. Raise your arms to shoulder height.

  4. Move your arms from side to side.

  5. Repeat as instructed by your therapist.

 

Reviewed November 2025 by Jennifer Strebel, OTR/L, BCP