Hi finchr,

I was given ER exercises starting when I was 3 months post-op. I was doing isometric ER exercise, AAROM shoulder ER with elastic exercise, and many other exercises for ER. However, I was doing them incorrectly at home by overcompensating using other muscles instead of my rotator cuff and moving my body or trunk when moving my arm in ER. I thought I was strengthening my rotator cuff but I wasn't at all. So this happened for about 3.5 months into pt. I did not know about that until I saw another physical therapist who was subbing for my primary physical therapist. Thus I have been working on ER strengthening and ensuring that I am using the right muscle and not moving my trunk or body or bending my wrist when performing my ER exercises for a month. My internal rotation is fine.

Could the reason why my ER has not come back yet is because I was performing the ER exercises incorrectly by using other muscles overcompensating for a weak rotator cuff or cheating by moving my body and bending my wrist when performing them?
Hopefully my ER will becoming back soon.

thanks again for your response.