Product Review: Shoulder Pulley
Authors: Di and Vanessa
What is a shoulder pulley?
It is a simple home tool system involving a wheel with an over the door strap, rope and handles and can be used while sitting or standing. It allows you to perform active assisted range of movements (where your stronger arm pulls your weaker arm up) therefore allowing movement which cannot normally be performed actively (on its own).
A shoulder pulley provides you with low impact exercise at home, increasing your ability to be consistent with your exercises and therefore speed up your recovery post injury or surgery. They are normally prescribed to people who have had shoulder surgery (such as a rotator cuff repair or a shoulder replacement), individuals who have been diagnosed with frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) as well as people with arthritis or chronic shoulder pain.
What are the benefits?
Improving Range of Movement: the handles and rope assist you with your shoulder movements, allowing you to perform gradual controlled stretching in multiple planes. This is essential when trying to regain pre-injury movement.
Improving your stiffness and pain: gentle movements can help break down adhesions which can be the cause of pain and stiffness.
Increasing Blood flow: gentle movements increase the blood flow to the shoulder joint and therefore assist with overall soft tissue recovery
By working on all of the above, your overall function is restored and therefore getting back to activities of daily living such as getting dressed or brushing your hair become easier.
Speak to one of our physiotherapists if you think the shoulder pulley may assist you. They will ensure that you understand how to set up this piece of equipment at home as well as checking to make sure that you have the correct form and posture while using it.