Rotator Cuff Repair — Large to Massive Tear (> 3 cm)

Samaritan Athletic Medicine (SAM Health, Corvallis OR) · Sara Tomlinson PT DPT SCS; Dr. Christopher McCrum

Weight-Bearing

N/A (upper extremity)

Key Restrictions

Sling at all times until PT-cleared; NO shoulder mobility (wrist/hand/elbow only) for first 4 wks; wks 4-8: PROM flex <=90 deg, ER <=15 deg; Phase II PROM: flex <=120 deg, ER <=30 deg; sling DC no sooner than 8 wks; no lifting >2-5 lbs Phase III; no lifting >10-15 lbs Phase IV; swimming not until UE plyometric tolerance established

Timeline & Phases

5 phases: Phase I (0-8 wks), Phase II (8-12 wks), Phase III (12-16 wks), Phase IV (16-24 wks), Phase V (24+ wks); 6-9 months total rehab

Notes

Much more conservative than small-medium protocol; shoulder completely immobilized (wrist/hand/elbow only) for first 4 wks; Phase I extends to 8 wks; RTC activation begins wk 10; jogging begins 12+ wks; Phase V: UE plyometrics, return to sport criteria-based; same structure as small-medium protocol but all timelines delayed; Developed by Sara Tomlinson PT DPT SCS & Dr. Christopher McCrum; reviewed Sept 2024

Surgeon / Author

Sara Tomlinson PT DPT SCS; Dr. Christopher McCrum

Published

September 2024