Nederlands 
Ruben Luijkx, Master of Science and co-owner of Fysio Fitaal, specialises in sports-related complaints, ultrasound diagnostics and manual therapy. Writing on physiofitaal.nl, he introduces you to the expertise and professionalism of Fysio Fitaal in Tilburg.
Abduction led active with stick
The abduction shoulder exercise with stick in stance is a mobility and rehabilitation exercise in which you stand upright and use a stick to move your affected arm to the side. "Abduction" means lifting the arm sideways (moving away from the body). This exercise is performed unilaterally, meaning you train one arm at a time. This exercise is unloaded, meaning you don't use any resistance or extra weight - it's purely about regaining freedom of movement in a lateral direction.
Table of contents
Purpose of the exercise
The main goal is the active-assisted restoration of shoulder mobility in abduction. Abduction is an important movement for everyday activities such as combing your hair, grabbing something from a high cabinet, or moving your arm to the side. By standing upright, you work against gravity, but the stick serves as an aid so that your healthy arm can help move the affected arm. The unilateral version gives you maximum control and focus on the affected shoulder, specifically for lateral movement.
Why this exercise for shoulder problems
- Guided active mobilisation
- Unilateral focus - full attention to affected shoulder
- Safe and controlled - stick gives support
- Build up gradually - you decide the distance
- Can stay within pain-free zone
- Capsular stretch - especially inferior and lateral capsule
When to use this exercise: This exercise is ideal for the early to mid rehabilitation phase when abduction is limited or painful. Perfect for frozen shoulder (capsulitis), impingement syndrome, after shoulder surgery, rotator cuff problems, or as an addition to anteflexion mobilisation. Abduction is often one of the most restricted and painful movements in shoulder problems.
Difficulty: Accessible to moderate. Often heavier than anteflexion because abduction is mechanically more difficult and more often limited in shoulder problems.
Equipment
- Stick, broom, or PVC pipe (about 1 metre long)
Starting position
- Stand upright with feet hip-width apart
- Weight evenly distributed on both feet
- Knees slightly bent
- Back neutral, shoulders relaxed
- Grasp the stick with both hands horizontally in front of your body
- Affected arm: Hold stick on side of affected shoulder
- Healthy arm: Hold stick on other side (middle/other end)
- Stick hangs horizontally in front of your body at hip/thigh level
- Both arms relatively extended or slightly bent
Movement to the side (abduction)
- Healthy arm pushes/lifts stick to side of affected arm
- This forces the affected arm to move to the side (abduction)
- Affected arm allows itself to be passively carried along by the stick
- Elbow of affected arm remains extended or slightly flexed
- Move the arm sideways until your shoulder feels a stretch
- Go as high/far as comfortably possible - stop when in pain
- Ideal: affected arm rises to shoulder height or higher (to 90 degrees or more)
- Don't go beyond your pain threshold
- Keep your torso stable - do not bend or compensate sideways
Holding final position
- Hold the end position for a few seconds
- No sharp pain, but stretching
- Keep breathing calmly
- Shoulder stays low, not raised to ear
Movement back
- Let the stick return slowly and in a controlled manner
- Healthy arm controls movement
- Affected arm continues to follow passively
- Back to start position
Note
- Stop at sharp pain - especially important in abduction (often more painful than anteflexion)
- Shoulder not raised to ear
- No compensation with trunk: stay upright, do not bend sideways
- Movement should be fluid
- Start with small movement distance (30-45 degrees), build up slowly
- Healthy arm does the work, affected arm follows
- Watch for pain around 60-90 degrees - stop earlier if necessary
Table of contents
Related complaints
Frozen shoulder
Frozen shoulder, also known as frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis, is a condition of the...
Cuff rupture in the shoulder
Do you have pain, loss of strength or difficulty lifting your arm? Then the...
Shoulder luxation (dislocation)
A shoulder luxation is usually caused by a hard fall and is often accompanied by pain ...