A Step-by-Step Guide to Rotator Cuff Post-Surgery Rehabilitation
Rotator cuff post-operative rehabilitation focuses on protecting the repaired tendon while gradually restoring your shoulder’s mobility, strength, and function.
Rotator Cuff Post-Surgery Rehabilitation Phases
Phase 1: Protection & Passive Range of Motion (Weeks 0–6)
Goal: Protect the repaired tissue, control pain and swelling, and regain passive mobility.
Key Interventions:
Keep the shoulder immobilized in a sling to allow proper tendon-to-bone healing.
Perform Passive Range of Motion (PROM) exercises with your physiotherapist, along with pendulum exercises. Avoid using your own shoulder muscles to lift the arm.
Maintain hand, wrist, and elbow mobility to reduce stiffness and swelling.
Phase 2: Active-Assisted & Active Motion (Weeks 6–12)
Goal: Restore full active range of motion and establish scapular stability.
Key Interventions:
Wean off the sling as directed by your surgeon.
Progress from Active-Assisted Range of Motion (AAROM) to Active Range of Motion (AROM), moving the arm using its own muscle power.
Focus on scapular control and gentle dynamic stability exercises.
Phase 3: Progressive Strengthening & Functional Recovery (Weeks 12–20)
Goal: Rebuild rotator cuff strength and transition back to daily activities.
Key Interventions:
Introduce resistance exercises using resistance bands and light weights.
Target all four rotator cuff muscles alongside the deltoid and scapular stabilizers.
Gradually increase load tolerance for daily tasks, pushing, pulling, and lifting overhead.
Phase 4: Advanced Strengthening & Return to Sport/High Load (Month 5+)
Goal: Full functional recovery, return to sports, and long-term injury prevention.
Key Interventions:
Implement sport-specific or job-specific functional training (e.g., swimming, tennis, heavy lifting).
Introduce plyometric exercises and dynamic stability under higher speeds and loads.
Complete full return-to-activity testing.
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