Table 1: Results of different rehabilitation protocols after rotator cuff surgery.

Study Subjects number Degree and Tear size Surgery type Treatment Duration & frequency Rom elevation
(early/late)
Re-tear rate (early/late) Outcome
Garofalo et al. 2010 [40] 100 (average age = 60) 100% Partialthickness tear (C2-3) Arthroscopic (no detailed technique) Group A: Control group protocol combined continuous passive motion (CPM)

Group B: Pendulum movements and progressive passive ABD, ER, flexion
Both groups
0 to 4 weeks:
Different protocols
5 to 28 weeks:
Same protocols
158.1°/151.7°

12 mo: 165.2°/158°
not applicable CPM reduces joint pain and improves
ROM at short-term follow-up
Lee et al. 2012 [18] 64 (average age = 55) 100% Full-thickness tear (medium to large) Arthroscopic Single row Group A:
Aggressive early passive ROM (flexion
>90° and ER to 30° before week 3)

Group B:
Minimum passive ROM
(flexion<90° until week 3)
Both groups
0~6 weeks: different passive
ROM protocol
6 weeks~: start active ROM
mo: group A, 157.3°;
group B, 151.9°.
12 mo: group A,
155.3°; group B, 153°
Group A, 23.3%.
GroupB 8.8%.
Limited self-directed rehabilitation
best. More aggressive rehabilitation
increases the re-tear rate.
Düzgün et al. 2011 [41] 29 (average age = 56) 100% Partial-thickness tear Phase 2~3 Side-to-side Group A: Early active movement combinedpreoperative rehabilitation

Group B:
Classical rehabilitation
Group A:
8 weeks protocol (4 weeks
preoperative treatment)

Group B:
22 weeks protocol
Not applicable not applicable Accelerated protocol led to less pain
and more rapid recovery of func-
tional level
Kim
et al. 2012 [42]
95 (average age = 60) 100% Full-thickness tear (small to medium) Arthroscopic Single row Double row Suture bridge Group A:
Controlled early passive motion 1 day
after surgery

Group B:
No passive ROM until brace removal
(4~5 weeks)
Group A:
From day 1

Group B:
From 4 weeks
6 mo: 150.57°/147.14°.
12 mo: 159.75°/
153.67°
Group A 12%
GroupB18%
Beginning early passive ROM <4 wk
postoperatively had no effect
Cuff
et al. 2012 [43]
68 (average age = 63) 100% Full-thickness tear Crescent type Arthroscopic Suture bridge Group A:
Early passive motion 2 days after surgery
(Start: flexion<120° and ER<30°)

Group B:
Passive forward flexion and ER 6
weeks after surgery
Group A:
3 times/week of PT+ 3 times/day
for pendulum

Group B:
3 times/week PT after 6 weeks+3
times/day for pendulum
6 mo: 158.1°/151.7°
12 mo: 165.2°/158°
Group A 15%
GroupB9%
Slight improvement in early ROM but
very similar outcomes at 1 y. Slightly
better healing observed in the de-
layed ROM group

Abbreviations: ABD: Abduction; IR/ER: Internal/External Rotation; ROM: Range of Motion; PT: Physical Therapy.