Postoperative rehabilitation following rotator cuff repair remains a crucial, but under-researched, aspect of patient recovery. Despite its importance, no comprehensive rehabilitation guideline based on robust clinical trials has emerged, leaving a gap in evidence-based practice.
This paper review current practices and establish clinical guidance on rehabilitation. The development of this evidence synthesis followed a rigorous five-stage process:
(1) systematic literature review,
(2) UK national practice survey,
(3) expert consensus (Delphi) study,
(4) updated literature search and review and
(5) synthesis of the previous four stages.
10 key domains for postoperative rehabilitation from immediate post-surgery to return to normal function, including sports, were identified.
This paper synthesises current knowledge and provides a platform for recommendations in clinical practice and future research. In particular, early shoulder movement was recommended during the ’immobilisation period’, but confined to shoulder elevation up to 90°, anterior to the scapular plane, with neutral external rotation.