Rotator Cuff Repair — Small to Medium Tears (≤3 cm)

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center · OSU Sports Medicine

Weight-Bearing

Sling 4-6 wks; D/C sling per physician Phase 2; PT starts at wk 2

Key Restrictions

Small <1 cm; medium 1-3 cm; no AROM before 6 wks; avoid scapular substitution with AA/AROM; no behind back stretching x 12 wks; subscapularis repair (12 wks): no ER >30 deg, no cross-body ADD, no active IR or IR behind back, no supporting body weight; biceps tenodesis: no extension or horizontal ABD x 4-6 wks, no resisted elbow flexion/shoulder flexion/supination x 6 wks; smoking is a risk factor for poor healing

Timeline & Phases

3 phases: Phase 1 Protection (wks 2-4, PROM only — flexion + ER initially, add ABD, IR per tolerance), Phase 2 (wks 4-8, AAROM/AROM, D/C sling, sub-max isometrics), Phase 3 (wks 8-16+, progressive strengthening, return to sport/work)

Notes

.edu site; 2020; small <1 cm, medium 1-3 cm (explicit definitions); subscapularis and biceps tenodesis precautions clearly listed; manual therapy: caudal GH mobs wks 2-4, add IR/ABD/etc after wk 4; outcome tools: DASH, QuickDASH; discharge criteria: full AROM no scapular substitution, 5/5 RTC strength, 65-70% IR/ER isokinetic testing; postural considerations emphasized; smoking flagged as risk factor

Surgeon / Author

OSU Sports Medicine

Published

2020