I decided to share this review of the Shoulder Reliever in hopes that if you landed here you might benefit from it like I have. So, if you have had shoulder pain that has lasted for weeks, months or years without any relief, keep reading and see if this could be a product that could help you out.
I will share my experience with it and how it helped me out. For me personally it was a small sharp pain when I did pressing exercises and throwing any type of ball. You might be struggling sleeping because it hurts so bad, or you have been through several PT exercises and it didn’t help. Whatever the case, it is worth a look to see if this might work for you.
My Verdict: 8 out of 10
My personal verdict on this so far is that it is working. I’m rating this at an 8 right now because of the progress I have seen already in a short period of time.
It’s not a 10 because I feel like the exercises bending over and doing the circle exercises is awkward and I worry about hitting the wall or my shins every time!
The fact that I can throw without pain in 4 weeks is a big deal. I had not had that success with my other exercises I tried.
Quick Facts
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My Shoulder Story
I injured my right shoulder around 15 years ago. It’s a sharp pain at times when I throw, which I would have trouble playing catch with the football or baseball with my son, or doing bench press exercises.
Over the years, my shoulders would get strong enough that it didn’t really bother me unless I did one of those type of movements, which really frustrates me because I love to bench press and do those exercises.
There was a time where it was hard sleeping, but I was able to get past that, just doing normal band work and shoulder exercises, but it never was 100%. I always had that nagging sharp pain if I just did any throwing action or bench press exercises. I definitely could not do a lot of push-ups without it hurting.
I did see a doctor and it didn’t require any surgery. He just suggested PT, which I did for a while to help stabilize it so I could do normal activities, but I never was 100% again.
Why I Bought It
I found the Shoulder Reliever in one of my Facebook feeds talking about fixing rotator cuff issues and shoulder pain. I went to the actual website, listened to all the videos and everything just made sense to me. It was going to be easy to use each day and didn’t require 10 exercises to do every day. So, I thought why not give it a try and see what happens.
“I love the simplicity of it and to not have to worry about doing 10 rehab exercises to see the results I already did.”
How It Works and What’s in the Case
The Shoulder Reliever comes in a nice storage case that will contain four different weight balls to exercise with. It has a metal handle with a strong thick cable on it with a hook on the end that attaches to the ball. This is what we use to swing around and work the muscle. The balls are numbered 1-4. 1 is the lightest and 4 is the heaviest. You use each ball in the exercise program for at least 10 days straight or until it’s really easy. Lastly you have the shoulder sleeve wrapped up that you can take and use at night.
How to Use the Shoulder Reliever (Instructions and Exercises)
The 4 Positions at a Glance
| Position | Where your arm is | Reps |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Straight out in front of you (lower toward your waist if it hurts) | 30 circles one way, 30 the other way |
| 2 | Out 45 degrees | 30 one way, 30 the other way |
| 3 | Straight out to your side | 30 one way, 30 the other way |
| 4 | Bent over, one hand on the wall, feet back | 30 one way, 30 the other way (watch your shins) |
| Then | Same 4 positions with the other arm | I moved up to 40-50 reps on ball 2 |
So the Shoulder Reliever workout is really simple. You are literally moving a weighted ball around in a circle that is tied to the handle in 4 different positions to target your shoulder muscles that matter the most for rebuilding strength in your shoulders. I started out with ball 1, which is the lightest. My shoulder is not in the excruciating pain that some of you might be in as you read this, so please understand that as I talk about what I did.
You start out swinging the ball in front of you in a circle. I was able to hold it straight out in front of me. If it hurts, you are directed to hold the handle lower toward your waist.
You move the ball in a circle with movement from your shoulder, not your wrist or arm, 30 times one direction. Then 30 times in the opposite direction. Then you go out 45 degrees and do the same 30 rotations one way and then 30 the other way. Position 3, you actually go straight out to your side and do another set of rotations.
Lastly, which I found odd to do, was to bend over and circle the ball in both directions. I was worried about hitting my shin the whole time. So, be careful with that, and it does help if you have one hand on the wall while you stretch your feet back and then swing with the other arm to perform the exercise.
Once you do that with one arm, then do the exact same thing with the other arm. Pretty simple!
I keep the ball in my office where I work downstairs, and when I get down there in the morning I go through the set. It takes no time at all.
I didn’t stay with the first ball for 10 days like it said to, because I knew my pain was not severe and I could handle the heavier ball 2 with no problem.
From that point I just did it every time I went down to my office. I did miss a few days because I forgot, and I didn’t increase the ball again every 10 days because I forgot. I did increase the reps to 40-50 while I stayed at that #2 ball, so I guess I followed the rules a little bit better than I thought. So, after doing it for 4 weeks, I’m now remembering to go to a heavier ball.
Does the Night Sleeve Help?
The shoulder sleeve is an interesting concept. The goal is to get your shoulder stable at night to give your body relief and let your body heal at night. It attaches to your shoulder and then hooks around either leg where it provides the most support.
I have not used the sleeve to sleep in because my shoulder pain was not severe enough to need it.
Does the Shoulder Reliever Work? My Results After 4 Weeks
“I could finally throw the football again without pain after 4 weeks.”
I did throw the football with some young kids the other night. After a couple warm-up throws I decided to let it rip and noticed I didn’t have that sharp pain to worry about like I usually get when throwing it! I was really surprised.
I would say I’m about 98%. I didn’t feel comfortable letting a 60-yard bomb go yet. We will give it another 4 weeks before I do that.
I have done dumbbell bench press with 40 pounders and everything was fine. I did, however, do a set of 10 push-ups, and at the end I could feel a little tweak of pain. So, it’s not 100% yet on week 4. So, we just follow the process and keep going!
My First 4 Weeks
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| Start | Ball 1, 30 circles each way in all 4 positions |
| Early on | Moved up to ball 2 instead of waiting 10 days |
| After that | Stayed on ball 2, raised the reps to 40-50, missed a few days |
| Week 4 | Threw a football with no sharp pain. Dumbbell bench with 40 pounders was fine. 10 push-ups gave a little tweak at the end. |
| Now | About 98%, moving up to a heavier ball |
Check the current price: Shoulder Reliever on the official site
60-day home trial · Lifetime warranty · HSA/FSA eligible
What I Liked
- One simple routine, not 10 exercises a day
- Takes no time at all, so it’s easy to do every morning
- No sharp pain throwing a football after 4 weeks
- Dumbbell bench press with 40 pounders felt fine
What I Didn’t Like
- The bent-over position: watch your shins and the wall
- 10 push-ups still gave me a little tweak at week 4
- Easy to forget to move up a ball every 10 days
What Bugs Me
The only thing that bugs me is the exercise where you bend over and do the rotations. You have to be very careful to not hit your shins or a wall. It would be nice to do those differently where you didn’t have to worry about that.
Who It Helps, and Who Should Skip It
Worth a Try If…
- Your shoulder pain has lasted weeks, months or years
- You get a sharp pain when you press or throw
- PT helped some, but you’re still not 100%
- Shoulder pain makes it hard to sleep
- You want one short routine, not 10 rehab exercises
- You can lift your arm to your waist and circle your wrist
See a Doctor First If…
- You literally can’t lift your arm
- You’re in a lot of pain and haven’t been checked
- You have bone on bone or bone spurs, like my dad
Anyone who has consistent shoulder pain and it has not gone away for weeks or months should give this a try. You should at least be able to raise your shoulder to waist level and rotate your wrist in a circular motion to be able to prove you can use the Shoulder Reliever.
My dad had bone on bone with spurs in his shoulders. We tried it on him and it was just too painful. He is actually not the right candidate and is getting a shoulder replacement in a month.
The 60-Day Trial and Warranty
There is a warranty that allows you to try the product for 60 days. If it does not work they will allow you to send it back for a refund. It also includes a lifetime warranty on the parts so if anything breaks you can get replacements for it.
What the Research Says About Pendulum Exercises
Physical therapists have used pendulum exercises for shoulder problems for a long time, but the research on them is thin, and no published study has tested the Shoulder Reliever itself. The classic version is passive: you lean over and let the arm hang and swing. One small 2006 study measured shoulder muscle activity during pendulum swings and found that adding a 1.5 kg weight made no significant difference to how hard the muscles worked. A 2020 motion study of 17 people found that classic pendulums mostly move the trunk, with little movement in the shoulder joint itself.
The Shoulder Reliever routine is different from that. You hold the arm out in front of you, at 45 degrees and out to the side, and make the circles with your shoulder. That’s closer to an active strengthening exercise than a passive swing, but it hasn’t been studied on its own.
Would I Buy It Again?
I would buy this again and recommend it. I plan on having it part of my daily routine even when I get to 100%. It’s too easy not to do it!
Check the current price: Shoulder Reliever on the official site
60-day home trial · Lifetime warranty · HSA/FSA eligible
Where to Get Help
As always, it is recommended to see a doctor first if you are in a lot of pain to see if this will be safe to try.
- APTA Choose PT: Find a PT, to find a licensed physical therapist near you.
- OrthoInfo (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons): rotator cuff tears, symptoms and treatment options explained by orthopedic surgeons.
- OrthoInfo: shoulder pain and common shoulder problems, for other causes of shoulder pain.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Shoulder Reliever work?
You are literally moving a weighted ball around in a circle that is tied to the handle in 4 different positions to target your shoulder muscles that matter the most for rebuilding strength in your shoulders. The goal of the night sleeve is to get your shoulder stable at night to give your body relief and let your body heal at night.
Does the 5-minute routine work?
My personal verdict on this so far is that it is working. I could finally throw the football again without pain after 4 weeks. I would say I’m about 98%. I did a set of 10 push-ups, and at the end I could feel a little tweak of pain, so it’s not 100% yet.
How long does the Shoulder Reliever routine take?
The company says about 5 minutes. It takes no time at all. I do it every morning when I get down to my office.
Do you have to use the night sleeve?
I have not used the sleeve to sleep in because my shoulder pain was not severe enough to need it. If you have issues sleeping at night with shoulder pain, this is worth a try.
Can you keep lifting weights while you use it?
The company suggests taking about 10 days off upper-body lifting when you start. I have done dumbbell bench press with 40 pounders and everything was fine.
Who shouldn’t use the Shoulder Reliever?
If you literally cannot lift your shoulder I would not start with this. Make sure to check with a doctor or your PT before going any further. You need to be able to lift your arm to your waist before this would be effective. My dad had bone on bone with spurs in his shoulders, and it was just too painful for him.
Is the Shoulder Reliever HSA or FSA eligible?
The company says it is HSA/FSA eligible. Truemed, which also sells it, has a provider review a short questionnaire to confirm eligibility.
Can you buy the Shoulder Reliever on Amazon?
You cannot buy it on Amazon. It is sold on the official Shoulder Reliever website.
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