Repair of Rotator Cuff Tears: Surgery for shoulders with torn rotator cuff tendons can lessen shoulder pain and improve function without acromioplasty.
Edited By: Frederick A. Matsen III, M.D., Winston J. Warme, MD
Last updated Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Figure 8 - Shoulder exercises Rehabilitation
The rehabilitation after rotator cuff surgery is carried out largely by the patient.Physical therapy Shoulders with rotator cuff disease may be stiff. One of the major
goals of rotator cuff surgery is to relieve much of this stiffness.
However, after surgery scar tissue will tend to recur and limit
movement unless motion is started immediately. This early motion is
facilitated by the complete surgical removal of the scar tissue so that
after surgery the patient needs only to maintain the range of motion
achieved at the operation. Later on, once the shoulder is comfortable
and flexible, and after the cuff repair has healed (usually three
months after surgery), strengthening exercises and additional
activities are started.Rehabilitation options It is often most effective for the patient to carry out their own
exercises so that they are done frequently, effectively and
comfortably. Usually, a physical therapist or the surgeon instructs the
patient in the exercise program and advances it at a rate that is
comfortable for the patient.
Can rehabilitation be done at home? In general the exercises are best performed by the patient at home.
Occasional visits to the surgeon or therapist may be useful to check
the progress and to review the program.Usual response Patients are almost always satisfied with the increases in range of
motion, comfort, and function that they achieve with the exercise
program. If the exercises are uncomfortable, difficult, or painful, the
patient should contact the surgeon promptly.
Risks This is a safe rehabilitation program with little riskDuration of rehabilitation For the first twelve weeks after surgery, emphasis is placed on
optimizing the flexibility and range of motion of the shoulder through
gentle stretching exercises. After three months, these stretching
exercises are continued and strengthening exercises are added (see
movies 2-5).
Once the range of motion and strength goals are achieved, the
exercise program can be cut back to a minimal level. However, gentle
stretching is recommended on an ongoing basis.
QuickTime movies
Returning to ordinary daily activities In general, patients are able to perform gentle activities of daily
living with the operated arm at the side starting two to six weeks
after surgery. Walking with the arm protected is strongly encouraged.
Driving should wait until the patient can perform the necessary
functions comfortably and confidently. Recovery may take three months
if the surgery has been performed on the right shoulder, because of the
increased demands on the right shoulder for shifting gears.
With the consent of their surgeon, patients can often return to
activities such as swimming, golf and tennis at six months after their
surgery. Long-term patient limitations Patients should avoid activities that involve major impact (chopping
wood, contact sports, sports with major risk of falls) or heavy loads
(lifting of heavy weights, heavy resistance exercises). These
activities may increase the chance of repeat rotator cuff tear.
Costs The surgeon and therapist should provide information on the usual cost
of the rehabilitation program. The program is quite cost-effective,
because it is based heavily on home exercises.
Surgery for rotator cuff tears at the University of Washington If you are interested in making an appointment to discuss this procedure, you can request an appointment using our online referrals website. To request a referral online, please click here. You can also call 206-598-7416 to make an appointment.
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