Tendon Transfer — Anterior Latissimus Dorsi Transfer

Massachusetts General Hospital · MGH Sports Medicine

Weight-Bearing

Full immobilization Phase I (0-8 wks); no formal PT Phase I; progressive UE use Phase II+

Key Restrictions

No formal PT Phase I (0-8 wks); AAROM only Phase II (8-16 wks); NO ER beyond 0 degrees Phase II; no PROM (do not stretch arm) Phase II-III

Timeline & Phases

4 phases: Phase I (0-8 wks, full immobilization, no formal PT), Phase II (8-16 wks, AAROM only — NO ER beyond neutral), Phase III (16-24 wks, gentle band strengthening — scaption/ER priority), Phase IV (24+ wks, progressive strengthening, return to sport)

Notes

For irreparable subscapularis tear; full immobilization Phase I — no formal PT is critical distinction; NO ER beyond neutral Phase II; scaption and ER retraining priority Phase III+; swimming not until Phase IV. [Archived copy — original Massachusetts General Hospital URL retired in the Mass General Brigham site migration; Wayback snapshot 2025-12-08.]

Surgeon / Author

MGH Sports Medicine