In seated assisted shoulder abduction, you sit on a chair while a helper holds your arm, lifts it out to the side and up until it is beside your ear, then lowers it slowly. The helper carries most of the weight of the arm, and you join in only as much as your physio has asked (active assisted range of motion). It is used when a stiff or painful shoulder cannot yet lift sideways on its own.

How to do the seated assisted shoulder abduction

Sit tall on a firm chair without armrests, feet flat on the floor and both arms resting by your sides.
Your helper stands next to the arm that needs to move. One of their hands holds your forearm near the wrist and the other supports your arm at the elbow.
The helper slowly lifts your straight arm out to the side, away from your body. Let them take most of the weight, and help only as much as your physio has told you to.
They carry on up until the arm is beside your ear, as in the video, or only as far as stays comfortable. As the arm passes shoulder height, they let the palm turn to face up, so at the top it faces your head.
The helper then brings the arm down by the same route, just as slowly, until it rests at your side again.

What you should feel

A stretch under the arm and around the shoulder once the arm rises above shoulder height. Any effort in the shoulder should stay light, because the helper is doing most of the lifting.

Common mistakes

Leaning your body away from the arm, or hitching the shoulder toward your ear, so the arm seems to go higher.
Taking over the lift yourself when your physio has asked you to keep the arm relaxed.
The helper lifting quickly, or carrying on after you have said stop.
Holding your breath as the arm goes up.

How often

Programs often use 5 to 10 slow, smooth lifts, 2 to 3 times a day, going only as high as stays comfortable. After surgery, your surgical team decides the limit. Your physio will adjust this.

Stop and check with your physio if

Sharp or catching pain as the arm passes shoulder height, or pain that grows with every lift.
Pain, pins and needles or numbness spreading down your arm or into your hand.
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. That is the difference from this assisted version, in which your own muscles may help a little. Ask your physio which one you are cleared for. If it is passive only, keep the arm completely loose and let the helper do all of the lifting.

At the top, the arm is out to the side and turned outward, the position in which most shoulders slip out, so after a dislocation go only as high as your physio has cleared. Agree on a stop word with your helper before you begin. Before the first session, your helper can ask your physio to show them the hold and the height.

An arm weakened by a stroke or a nerve injury needs extra care, because the shoulder is easily hurt if the arm is pulled on or lifted too far or too fast. Wait until your physio has taught your helper the grip and how high to go. This page explains the general technique, not a stroke rehab program.

The same movement done on your back is lying passive shoulder abduction. Once the arm is allowed to do more, shoulder abduction with a stick or shoulder pulley abduction lets your other arm do the assisting, so you no longer need a helper.

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.

Seated assisted shoulder abduction