Functional recovery program after rotator cuff repair surgery: a current concepts review

Rotator cuff tears are primarily an aging-related degenerative disease; however, they are also observed in patients who use their arms extensively for sports or labor.Such tears cause shoulder pain and weakness, leading to reduced shoulder function, which can affect daily activities and sports ability.Although a successful recovery after rotator cuff repair does not rely on surgery alone, rotator cuff repair is the treatment of choice.To restore shoulder function to preinjury levels, a well-structured postoperative functional recovery program is important and should be grounded in scientific evidence.The program typically spans approximately 1 year and includes three key phases: shoulder immobilization in stage 1, range of motion recovery in stage 2, and strength restoration in stage 3.In addition, scapular stabilization exercises and proprioceptive training should be incorporated throughout the program.By following this process, patients successfully return to sports and live normally.