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Rotator Cuff Repair Companion

Applied Companion

Rotator Cuff Repair Companion

A structured companion for rotator cuff repair recovery, with support for precautions, phased progression, daily routines, symptom awareness, and care-team follow-through.

Format digital
Access $39.00
Item ID acd-001
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Educational support only. This resource complements, not replaces, provider instructions, facility policy, or medical advice.

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Rotator Cuff Surgery Recovery Guide
Rotator Cuff Anatomy — Simplified

Understanding what the rotator cuff does can make the recovery process far less confusing.

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and tendons that stabilize the shoulder and help lift and rotate the arm. When one of these tendons tears, shoulder strength and movement can become painful or limited.

Surgical repair reconnects the torn tendon to the bone so that it can heal and gradually regain strength.

The Rotator Cuff Applied Companion includes simplified illustrations designed to help patients understand:

  • The structure of the shoulder joint
  • How rotator cuff tears occur
  • How surgical repair restores tendon attachment
  • Why rehabilitation exercises are important during recovery

These illustrations are designed to make complex medical concepts easier to understand for patients and caregivers.

rotator cuff repair rotator cuff surgery recovery shoulder surgery recovery shoulder rehabilitation arthroscopic rotator cuff repair recovery timeline shoulder precautions sling management rehabilitation tracking physical therapy orthopedic recovery postoperative shoulder care

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Clinical Confidence

Evidence behind this resource

20 sources
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AMA-style references

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View clinical references 20 sources
  1. AAOS. Clinical Practice Guideline: Management of Rotator Cuff Injuries. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2025. https://www.aaos.org/quality/quality-programs/rotator-cuff/ Source
  2. AAOS. Clinical Practice Guideline: Management of Rotator Cuff Injuries. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2019. https://www.aaos.org/globalassets/quality-and-practice-resources/rotator-cuff/rotator-cuff-cpg-final-12-20-19.pdf Source
  3. Almeida A, Malavolta EA, Gracitelli MEC, et al. Rehabilitation after rotator cuff repair: systematic review of randomized trials. Clinical Rehabilitation. 2022. doi:10.1177/02692155211071757 Source
  4. American Society of Shoulder and Elbow Therapists. Consensus statement on rehabilitation after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2016. https://www.jshoulderelbow.org/article/S1058-2746(15)00751-X/fulltext Source
  5. Baverel L, Boutsiadis A, Reynard Q, et al. Early versus delayed mobilization after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: meta-analysis. American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2020. doi:10.1177/0363546520909380 Source
  6. Kim H, et al. Supervised exercise versus home program after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: pragmatic trial. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2022. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9227479/ Source
  7. Boston Shoulder Institute. Physical Therapy Protocol—Rotator Cuff Reconstruction. Boston Shoulder Institute. 2020. https://bostonshoulderinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PT-Rotator-Cuff-Reconstruction-AM-JJW.pdf Source
  8. Chan K, MacDermid JC, Hoppe DJ, et al. Delayed versus early active motion after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: meta-analysis. Arthroscopy. 2020. https://www.arthroscopyjournal.org/article/S0749-8063(19)30983-6/fulltext Source
  9. Cho NS, Cha J-H, Rhee YG. Re-tear-specific rehabilitation considerations after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery. 2022. doi:10.4055/cios21083 Source
  10. Garcia GH, Wu H-H, Liu JN, et al. Return to sport after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: systematic review. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2020. doi:10.1177/2325967120906821 Source
  11. Hao B, Zhang F, Wang J, et al. Early exercise versus immobilization after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2025. doi:10.1186/s12891-025-08500-7 Source
  12. Jost B, Zumstein M, Pfirrmann CWA, Gerber C. Clinical and morphologic results after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery American Volume. 2006. https://journals.lww.com/jbjsjournal/Abstract/2006/06000/Clinical_and_Morphologic_Results_of_Arthroscopic.4.aspx Source
  13. JSES Practice Patterns. Post-operative rehabilitation dosing after shoulder surgery: survey reports. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2025. https://www.jshoulderelbow.org/ Source
  14. Koo S-S, Burkhart SS. Postoperative rehabilitation after rotator cuff repair. Techniques in Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2020. https://journals.lww.com/techshoulderelbowsurg/Fulltext/2020/03000/Postoperative_Rehabilitation_After_Rotator_Cuff.4.aspx Source
  15. Longo UG, De Salvatore S, Risi Ambrogioni L, et al. Accelerated versus conventional rehabilitation after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2021. doi:10.1186/s12891-021-04397-0 Source
  16. Massachusetts General Hospital. Rehabilitation Protocol for Rotator Cuff Tear: Small to Medium Tear. Massachusetts General Hospital. 2019. https://www.massgeneral.org/assets/MGH/pdf/orthopaedics/sports-medicine/physical-therapy/rehabilitation-protocol-for-rotator-cuff-tear-small-to-medium-tear.pdf Source
  17. Massachusetts General Hospital. Rehabilitation Protocol for Rotator Cuff Tear: Large to Massive Tear. Massachusetts General Hospital. 2019. https://www.massgeneral.org/assets/mgh/pdf/orthopaedics/sports-medicine/physical-therapy/rehabilitation-protocol-for-rotator-cuff-tear-large-to-massive-tear.pdf Source
  18. Rossi LA, et al. Immobilization duration after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: systematic review. Shoulder & Elbow. 2021. doi:10.1177/17585732211033341 Source
  19. Saltzman BM, Jain A, Campbell KA, et al. Clinical outcomes and retear after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: systematic review. Arthroscopy. 2020. https://www.arthroscopyjournal.org/article/S0749-8063(19)31145-6/fulltext Source
  20. Willemot L, Witvrouw E, Declercq G, et al. Postoperative rehabilitation protocol after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: content influences outcomes. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation. 2020;29(1):30. https://meridian.allenpress.com/jsr/article/29/1/30/435468/Postoperative-Rehabilitation-Protocol-After Source

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