Upper Extremity and Shoulder Exercises

Upper Extremity Resisted Exercises

• Upper trap exercises are isometric.
• Resist in the supine or side-lying position, seated, or standing.
• Middle trap exercises are isometric.
• Resist in the prone position, using a short or long lever arm, either seated, or standing unilaterally or bilaterally.
• Lower trap exercises are isometric.
• Resist in the prone position, either seated or standing.

Planar Exercises

• These exercises occur in one plane.

Shoulder Exercises

• For Flexion-Isometrics, work in the lower, mid, and upper ranges of motion.
• Resist using weights, pulleys, or bands.
• Watch out for compensations and problems during exercise.
• For Abduction-Isometrics, work in the lower, middle, and upper ranges.
• Resist with weights, pulleys, and bands, while observing for compensations/problems.
• Shoulder extension can use weights, pulleys, and bands.
• External rotation at 0 degrees utilizes isometrics, weights, pulleys, and bands.
• Internal rotation at 0 degrees utilizes isometrics, weights, pulleys, and bands.
• Exercises include rotation at 45 and 90 degrees.

Multiplanar Shoulder Exercises

• Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) patterns D1 and D2 can be used.

Closed Chain Shoulder Exercises

• Examples are ball on the wall flexion/abduction, wall push-ups, table top push-ups, and different types of push-ups as progression.

Circuit Exercises

• Circuits involve 2 exercises, one acute and one chronic.
• Biceps exercises include isometrics, weights, pulleys, and bands.
• Supination can use isometrics, weights, pulleys, bands, and Therabar.
• Pronation can use isometrics, weights, pulleys, bands, and Therabar.
• Wrist extension utilizes isometrics, weights, pulleys, theraband, and putty.
• Wrist flexion utilizes isometrics, weights, pulleys, theraband, and putty.
• Radial deviation utilizes isometrics, weights, pulleys, theraband, and putty.
• Ulnar deviation utilizes isometrics, weights, pulleys, theraband, and putty.
• For gross grasp, use putty, grippers, and Theraband bars.
• Intrinsic exercises use putty and rubber bands.
• Body Blade exercises involve flexion, horizontal abduction, and adduction.

Hand Exercises

• Individual finger flexor and extensor exercises are important.
• Tendon glides are included.

Explore resisted isometric exercises for the upper trapezius, middle trapezius and lower trapezius. Learn about planar and shoulder exercises, including flexion, abduction, extension, and rotation. Understand proper resistance techniques and watch for compensations during exercise.