Intermediate Shoulder Post-Fracture Rehabilitation

Program Overview — Intermediate Shoulder Post-Fracture Rehabilitation (Program 2381)

This program is for people recovering from a shoulder fracture who have moved past early healing and are ready for a more active, structured plan over 20 weeks. The goal is to rebuild comfortable movement, strength, and shoulder control so you can return to everyday activities with confidence. You will work with equipment such as a balance pad, weight vest, dumbbells, and pull-up bar, and your clinician will adjust the plan to your specific fracture and needs.

Before You Start

Please begin only after your clinician has assessed your shoulder and cleared you for this level of activity. Do not force movement into ranges that have not been assessed, and stop if pain increases during or after exercise. Always warm up before and cool down after sessions. Seek medical advice promptly if you notice sudden severe pain, new swelling, numbness, or a feeling that the shoulder is unstable. These are general safety steps, not a diagnosis—your clinician knows your case best.

Weekly Structure

You will do about four sessions per week, roughly 30 minutes each, across 20 weeks. The plan moves through phases: protection, early motion, strengthening, and advanced strengthening. Early weeks focus on gentle movement and control; later weeks add more loading and functional tasks. Your clinician uses checkpoints—such as pain levels, movement range, and strength—to decide when you are ready to progress, so the pace fits your recovery rather than a fixed calendar date.

What a Typical Session Looks Like

Each session follows a warm-up, main work, and cool-down pattern. A warm-up might include gentle shoulder and arm movements, light band or dumbbell work, and posture setting. The main work uses your balance pad for stability, dumbbells and a weight vest for progressive strengthening, and the pull-up bar only when cleared and appropriate. Cool-down includes slow stretching and relaxed breathing. Your clinician may also include hands-on techniques, taping, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, or water-based exercise as part of your plan.

Tracking Progress

Your clinician will use phase checkpoints—like comfortable rest pain, improving range of motion, and pain-free strength—to guide when you advance. These checkpoints are clinical guides, not targets you need to hit on your own. Outcome measures such as the Constant-Murley Score, UCLA Shoulder Rating Scale, DASH, pain scales, range-of-motion measurements, and manual muscle testing help show change over time and shape your program. Share how your shoulder feels day to day, because your feedback matters as much as the numbers.

Recovery and Self-Care

Some mild soreness after activity can be normal, but pain that keeps increasing is a signal to ease off and tell your clinician. Do not push through sharp pain, and avoid heavy or overhead loading until you are cleared. Rest, good sleep, and pacing your activities support healing. Contact your clinician if you have new or worsening pain, swelling, weakness, numbness, or a sense that the shoulder gives way. Medication questions should go to your prescribing clinician.