How important is rehabilitation in the treatment of a rotator cuff tear?
Rehabilitation plays a critical role in both the nonsurgical and surgical treatment of a rotator cuff tear. When a tear occurs, there is frequently atrophy of the muscles around the arm and loss of motion of the shoulder. An exercise or physical therapy program is necessary to regain strength and improve function in the shoulder. Even though surgery repairs the defect in the tendon, the muscles around the arm remain weak, and a strong effort at rehabilitation is necessary for the procedure to succeed. Complete rehabilitation after surgery may take several months. Your orthopaedic surgeon can prescribe an appropriate program based on your needs and the findings at surgery.
