Rotator Cuff Repair

University of New Mexico (UNM) Sports Medicine · Will Curtis MD, Dustin Richter MD, Christopher Shultz MD, Gehron Treme MD…

Weight-Bearing

N/A (upper extremity)

Key Restrictions

Sling duration surgeon-determined (2, 4, or 6 weeks); if concurrent biceps tenodesis: no resisted elbow flexion x 6 weeks; no AROM until week 6; criteria-based phase advancement

Timeline & Phases

Immediate: pendulums, elbow/hand ROM, cryotherapy; Phase I (wks 2-6): PROM to 90 deg flexion/abd, ER 30 deg, IR 30 deg; wks 4-5: PROM to 120 deg, add IR/ER tubing and prone exercises; wk 6: advance PROM, begin AAROM and AROM to 90 deg; Phase II (wks 7-14): progress AROM, lateral raises, prone Ts/Ys; Phase III (wks 15-24): fundamental RC strengthening, diagonals, push-up plus, advance resistance; Phase IV (wks 24-36): return to sport/work

Notes

PT start time surgeon-selected (2, 4, or 6 weeks post-op), 1-2x/week for 12+ weeks; sling worn until PT start; revised 2025

Surgeon / Author

Will Curtis MD, Dustin Richter MD, Christopher Shultz MD, Gehron Treme MD, Andrew Veitch MD

Published

2025