In lying passive shoulder abduction, you lie on your back and a helper moves your relaxed arm out to the side and up toward your head, then back down. Your shoulder muscles stay switched off (passive range of motion). With the bed supporting your body and shoulder blade, many people find it easier to let the arm go loose than in sitting.

How to do the lying passive shoulder abduction

Lie on your back on a firm bed or treatment table with your legs straight, the arm that needs to move resting at your side near the edge.
Your helper stands on that side and holds the arm at the elbow and at the forearm near the wrist.
Let the arm go completely heavy in their hands.
The helper slowly carries the arm out to the side along the bed and on up toward your head, as far as is comfortable. As it passes shoulder height, the palm turns to face the ceiling, and the elbow may bend a little on the way. In the video the arm finishes straight, above the head.
The helper brings it back down by the same route to rest beside you.

What you should feel

A stretch under the arm and at the front of the shoulder as the arm moves above shoulder height. The arm itself should feel heavy and loose in the helper's hands.

Common mistakes

Lifting the arm yourself, or holding your breath as it moves.
Shrugging the shoulder up toward your ear as the arm passes shoulder height.
The helper speeding up or carrying on through pain.

How often

Many programs use about 5 to 10 slow movements, 2 or 3 times a day. After an operation, how far the arm goes is set by your surgical team. Your physio will adjust this.

Stop and check with your physio if

Sharp or catching pain as the arm passes shoulder height, pain that grows with each movement, or tingling down the arm.
Pins and needles in your arm or hand that do not go away after you stop, or part of your arm or hand goes numb. Get medical advice the same day. If one side of your face or body suddenly goes numb or weak, or your speech becomes slurred or muddled, call emergency services, even if it goes away.
A sudden pop or tearing feeling in the shoulder that brings sharp pain, new weakness or trouble lifting the arm. Stop and contact your surgical team the same day, or get medical advice the same day if you have not had surgery.
The shoulder feels as if it has slipped out of place, looks a different shape or suddenly locks so you cannot move the arm, or your hand turns cold, pale or blue. Go to an emergency department straight away, without driving yourself, and do not try to put the shoulder back in yourself.
Your wound becomes more red, hot, swollen or painful, or starts to leak. Contact your medical team the same day.

From the clinic

After shoulder surgery, including a rotator cuff repair, or after a shoulder fracture or dislocation, follow your surgeon's or physio's plan, and do only the movements and range they have cleared. Many plans allow only passive movement at first, where the arm is moved for you and its muscles stay relaxed. Here your helper does every bit of the moving, and your arm stays heavy on the way out and back. After a dislocation, take care with the part where the arm is out to the side and turned so the palm faces up, since most shoulders slip out with the arm out to the side and turned outward. Go only as far as your physio has cleared.

If you are pregnant and past the first three months, check with your physio before exercising flat on your back. Have your physio teach your helper the grip first. Speak up the moment anything catches or starts to hurt. Once the arm may help a little, shoulder abduction with a stick can also be done lying on your back, and the sideways table slide is another way to work on this direction.

Written and checked by the PocketPhysio editorial team. Last updated 2026-09-28.

This page is general education, not a diagnosis or a personal treatment plan. If you have pain, an injury or a health condition, see a physiotherapist or doctor before starting new exercises.

Lying passive shoulder abduction