What to expect from exercise therapy for scapular dyskinesis

The therapist may watch your shoulder blade while you lift, lower, push, pull, or rotate the arm. They may assess posture, range of motion, neck and upper-back movement, and the strength of muscles around the shoulder. Early work often uses gentle wall slides, controlled arm lifts, serratus activation, rowing patterns, and rotator-cuff exercises. The aim is smoother coordination, not forcing the blade into one rigid position.

Practise the small movements regularly and keep the shoulder relaxed rather than shrugging. Your home plan may begin with low resistance and short sets, then progress to bands, weights, or more demanding reaching as control improves. Avoid adding exercises from videos without checking them if they reproduce sharp pain. Mention work, sport, sleep position, or repetitive tasks that trigger symptoms so the programme reflects your real demands.

Seek urgent care for a new major injury, sudden inability to raise the arm, severe swelling, chest symptoms, or new arm weakness with numbness. Contact your clinician if pain becomes persistent at rest, shoulder movement is progressively restricted, or the blade appearance changes quickly. Ongoing symptoms may call for a review of the neck, nerves, joint, or exercise technique.

Ask which shoulder motions should be limited at first, how to recognise good blade control, and when to return to lifting or sport. See the overview of [Exercise Therapy](/treatments/physiotherapy-and-rehabilitation/exercise-therapy/).