Getting the shoulder moving as soon as possible is important. However, this must be balanced with the need to protect the healing muscles and tissues. Your doctor may have you wear a sling to support and protect the shoulder for a few days after surgery. Ice and electrical stimulation treatments may be used during your first few therapy sessions to help control pain and swelling from the surgery. Your therapist may also use massage and other types of hands-on treatments to ease muscle spasm and pain.
Therapy can progress quickly after a simple arthroscopic resection.
You just need to be careful to avoid doing too much, too quickly. Therapy goes slower after surgeries where the shoulder muscles have been cut. Exercises begin with passive movements. In passive exercises, your shoulder joint is moved, but your muscles stay relaxed. Your therapist gently moves your joint and gradually stretches your arm.