The efficacy of stretching exercises to reduce posterior shoulder tightness acutely in the postoperative population

Posterior Shoulder Tightness (PST) is a lack of extensibility within the posterior soft tissue of the shoulder which results in pain, impaired mobility, and reduced function. Among the number of studies, none of them have reported its effectiveness on shoulder stiffness in a postoperative cohort. Therefore, in this study, Paul A Salamh et al. revealed that stretching is more effective at reducing acute PST in the postoperative shoulder population then the supine sleeper stretch and no stretch at all.

To discover the short-term effects of two stretches intended to decrease posterior shoulder tightness (PST). 

Sixty-three patients with arthroscopic shoulder surgery were allocated to one of three groups: control, supine sleeper, or horizontal adduction stretch. Estimations of pain, side-lying PST, the QuickDASH, and internal rotation mobility were involved as the dependent variables. Patients were directed to implement the allotted intervention twice daily after the physical therapy (PT) initial analysis until their first follow-up appointment 48–72h following the initial PT visit. 

Between-group analyses of dependent variables exhibited considerable differences in PST measurements obtained at baseline and follow-up supporting horizontal adduction stretching. Post-hoc testing described the supremacy of horizontal adduction stretching over both the control and supine sleeper intervention. 

The horizontal adduction stretch is more efficient in alleviating acute PST within the postoperative shoulder group as compared to the other interventions.