SHOULDER ARTHRITIS
Shoulder Arthritis
Exercises
Exercise cannot reverse arthritis or regrow cartilage, but the right exercise program can reduce pain, improve shoulder motion, maintain strength, and help many patients avoid or delay surgery.
Improve Motion
Reduce Pain
Maintain Function
Does Not Reverse Arthritis
Can Exercise Help Shoulder Arthritis?
Yes. Although exercise cannot restore worn cartilage, it can improve the way your shoulder functions. Maintaining motion, preserving muscle strength, and improving shoulder mechanics often decreases pain and makes everyday activities easier.
Dr. Streit's Clinical Perspective
One of the biggest misconceptions is that arthritis means you should stop using your shoulder. In reality, completely avoiding movement often leads to increased stiffness and additional loss of function. The goal is to keep the shoulder moving without repeatedly aggravating it.
Goals Of An Exercise Program
Maintain Motion
Prevent progressive stiffness and preserve functional range of motion.
Improve Mechanics
Strengthen the muscles surrounding the shoulder to improve joint mechanics.
Reduce Pain
Better shoulder mechanics often lead to less pain during daily activities.
Maintain Independence
Keep performing everyday tasks comfortably for as long as possible.
Improve Endurance
Increase your shoulder's ability to tolerate repetitive activities.
Delay Surgery
For some patients, an effective exercise program may postpone the need for shoulder replacement.
Exercises I Commonly Recommend
Gentle Stretching
Daily stretching helps preserve shoulder mobility and reduce stiffness.
Range Of Motion Exercises
Keeping the shoulder moving often improves comfort and function.
Rotator Cuff Strengthening
When appropriate, strengthening the remaining rotator cuff improves shoulder stability.
Scapular Strengthening
The shoulder blade plays a major role in normal shoulder mechanics.
Posture Exercises
Improving posture may reduce unnecessary stress across the shoulder joint.
Home Exercise Program
A consistent home program is often just as important as formal physical therapy.
Exercises That May Increase Pain
There is no universal list of "forbidden" exercises, but activities that repeatedly produce significant pain should usually be modified.
Common Activities To Modify
- Heavy overhead lifting
- Repeated overhead pressing
- High-impact shoulder exercises
- Exercises causing sharp pain
Usually Better Tolerated
- Gentle stretching
- Light resistance exercises
- Controlled strengthening
- Low-impact aerobic exercise
Should I Work Through The Pain?
Mild muscle soreness after exercise is common. Sharp joint pain that persists or progressively worsens is different.
Exercises should challenge the shoulder without repeatedly aggravating the arthritic joint.
What I Tell My Patients
"I don't want you to avoid using your shoulder—but I also don't want every workout to become a pain tolerance test. Exercise should help your shoulder function better, not leave it feeling worse every day."
When Is Physical Therapy Helpful?
Many patients benefit from working with a physical therapist early in treatment to learn proper stretching, strengthening, and shoulder mechanics. Once symptoms improve, a consistent home exercise program often becomes the most important long-term treatment.
When Is Exercise No Longer Enough?
Persistent Night Pain
Progressive Loss Of Motion
Increasing Daily Pain
Difficulty Working
Unable To Enjoy Recreation
Failure Of Conservative Treatment
Related Resources
Need Help Deciding Whether Exercise Is Enough?
A comprehensive shoulder evaluation can determine whether physical therapy and home exercises remain the best treatment for your arthritis or whether another option is more likely to restore your quality of life.
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