Upper Body Exercises Before Surgery or Procedure: Help with Walker or Crutch Use

Doing exercises before your surgery or procedure can help speed your recovery. These exercises build upper body strength. This can help you when you're using a walker or crutches to get around after surgery. Your physical therapist or surgeon may advise you to use weights to make the exercises more effective. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions.

Stop any exercise that causes sharp or increased pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, or chest pain.

• Sit up straight. Grasp a ____-pound weight if your provider suggested it. Keep your elbow close to your body, your wrist straight, and your palm turned toward the ceiling.
• Bend your arm, moving your hand up to your shoulder, then lower slowly.
• Repeat ____ times.
• Do a set with each arm.

• Sit, leaning forward from the waist. Grasp a ____-pound weight if your provider suggested it.
• Bend your elbow so that your forearm is parallel to the floor. Then straighten your elbow as you extend your arm behind you.
• Repeat ____ times.
• Do a set with each arm.

• Sit in a sturdy chair with armrests.
• With palms flat on the armrests, press down to lift your buttocks from the chair. Straighten your elbows as much as you can, and hold for ____ seconds.
• Bend your elbows to slowly ease back down.
• Repeat ____ times.