Intermediate Shoulder Post-Fracture Rehabilitation

Intermediate Shoulder Post-Fracture Rehabilitation — Program Overview

This program is for people recovering from a shoulder fracture who have already completed early healing and basic motion work and are ready for an intermediate step. Its goal is to gently rebuild shoulder movement, strength, and control while protecting the healing bone. Your therapist will tailor it to you, since every fracture and recovery is different. The plan uses a rower, elliptical, and knee brace as supporting tools, not as the main treatment. Follow your clinician's guidance throughout.

Before You Start

Start only when your clinician confirms it is safe. This program is not appropriate if your fracture fixation is unstable, if the joint is acutely inflamed, or if you have severe pain. Warm up before every session and avoid overloading the shoulder; keep your spine in a neutral, comfortable position during exercise. Stop and call your clinician if pain sharply increases, swelling or redness appears, you feel numbness or new weakness, or you cannot bear weight safely. These are general guides, not exact cutoffs.

Weekly Structure

The plan runs 8 weeks, 4 sessions per week, about 45 minutes each. Early weeks focus on protection, gentle movement, and calm, controlled muscle activation. Middle weeks add active-assisted motion, joint glides, and light progressive strengthening. Later weeks build scapular control, proprioception, and more confident strengthening, all within comfort. The rower and elliptical help with warm-up and general conditioning, while the knee brace supports safe lower-body positioning. Your therapist decides when you move to the next phase.

What a Typical Session Looks Like

Begin with a warm-up on the elliptical or rower at an easy, comfortable pace, keeping your shoulder relaxed and spine neutral. Main work includes the therapeutic exercises, glides, soft tissue work, and scapular stabilization your therapist assigns. Finish with a cool-down of gentle motion and relaxed breathing. Use the knee brace as advised for support during standing or equipment work. Keep everything smooth and pain-guided, and rest between sets as needed.

Tracking Progress

Your therapist uses progression criteria to decide when you are ready to advance from one phase to the next, based on comfort, movement, and control rather than fixed numbers you track alone. Outcome measures such as the Constant-Murley, ASES, SST, and SPADI scores, plus range-of-motion and strength testing, help show change over time. These tools guide adjustments; they do not replace your clinician's judgment.

Recovery and Self-Care

Manage pain sensibly with rest and the guidance of your care team; do not add or change medications on your own. Expect some mild soreness after activity, but sharp or lasting pain is a signal to ease off. Get adequate sleep and stay generally active as tolerated. Seek urgent care for sudden severe pain, chest symptoms, or signs of infection such as fever, spreading redness, or warmth.