Rotator Cuff Repair

Rotator cuff repair is designed to treat either partial or full tears of the rotator cuff tendon where the tendon is torn off the arm bone or the humerus. Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is the preferred surgical technique. It is a minimally invasive surgery using small incisions and a camera (arthroscope) that displays pictures of the inside of the shoulder joint on a monitor that the surgeon uses to guide miniature surgical instruments to perform the repair. Less commonly, a small open incision may be used to reattach the rotator cuff tendon. Rotator cuff repair is an outpatient surgery. Repair requires suture anchors to help reattach the tendon back to the bone.

Recovery and rehabilitation are critical to successfully returning to activity and sports. After rotator cuff repair surgery, you will wear a sling to immobilize the shoulder and protect the repair for 4-6 weeks. The first phase of recovery is focused on pain control and preventing shoulder stiffness by beginning passive range of motion exercises.

Once the sling is removed, early rehabilitation introduces active motion and strength training exercises while protecting the repair. Starting three months later, advanced rehabilitation emphasizes restoring strength, endurance, and sport-specific skills. This phase is crucial for athletes and those who do overhead activities and requires close collaboration between the patient, surgeon, and physical therapist. Generally, it can take 6 months or more to recover from surgery, depending on the extent of the repair and individual goals.

Returning to sports after rotator cuff repair is an individualized process that depends on the extent of the injury, the type of repair, and the athlete’s specific sport. A successful return to sport after shoulder surgery in the athlete requires a multidisciplinary approach and a coordinated effort between the injured athlete, the athletic training staff, and medical team members.

Factors to consider include:

• Healing Time: Full tendon healing can take several months. Premature return to sports or activities can risk reinjury.
• Sport-Specific Demands: The requirements of the sport (e.g., overhead movements in baseball or swimming) influence the rehabilitation process and return-to-sport timeline.
• Athlete Readiness: Physical strength, range of motion, and psychological readiness determine when an athlete can safely return to competition.

Studies show that most professional and recreational athletes are able to return to play at their preinjury level after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair surgery.