Rehabilitation following a rotator cuff repair is an important factor for achieving satisfactory patient outcomes. The rehabilitation should be tailored to an individual patient’s needs and should advance through stages based on patient progression. Rehabilitation is often done under the direction of a physical therapist and can be divided into 4 phases during a 6-month period.
The goals of therapy are to protect the tendon repair and prevent injury to the repair while preventing stiffness and restoring strength and function to provide a good outcome for the patient. Consistent communication between the patient, therapist, and surgeon is paramount for a good result. The ability to create a patient-specific program will provide these complex patients an opportunity for improved function and pain relief.