What to Expect After Rotator Cuff Surgery
In the second iteration of our “What to Expect” series, we will discuss rotator cuff repairs. If you or a loved one is preparing for rotator cuff repair surgery, it’s normal to have a lot of questions about the road to recovery. We’re here to provide you with insights on what you can expect, from the day of surgery to the gradual return to your daily activities. Understanding the recovery journey can help set expectations and ensure a smoother, more comfortable experience.
Recovery After a Rotator Cuff Surgery:
A Step-by-Step Guide
What is rotator cuff surgery?
The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and tendons that facilitate shoulder movement and stabilize the ball and socket joint of the shoulder. Over time, one or more of these tendons can wear down or become injured, resulting in pain, strength impairments, and/or limited mobility. When conservative treatments don’t provide relief, surgery may be necessary to repair the damaged tissue.
The First 24 Hours After Surgery
Immediately following surgery, the focus will be on allowing the shoulder to rest and heal.
You can expect:
- Immobilization: A sling will be provided to keep your shoulder stable and minimize movement.
- Pain Management: Discomfort and pain are normal. Your surgeon will discuss pain management options with you to keep you comfortable, this can include medication and thermal modalities, such as ice.
- Early Physical Therapy: Although rest is essential, very gentle exercises to keep blood flowing and prevent stiffness will often begin in the first week or two.
Starting Your Recovery: Weeks 1-6
After a few weeks, physical therapy will play a more active role in your recovery:
- What to Expect: Typically, patients are released to begin outpatient physical therapy 3 to 6 weeks following surgery. The primary focus during this time is protecting the surgical site and allowing the repair to heal. You will be utilizing a sling most hours of the day to protect your healing tissue. You will gradually phase out of the sling with the guidance of your surgeon and therapist. You will be limited during this time on how much you can use your shoulder outside of the sling.
- Range of Motion (ROM): The primary focus of therapy in the early phase of recovery will be restoring range of motion and preventing stiffness. At this stage, this will be done through gentle, passive stretching of the shoulder by your therapist and through easy self-stretching exercises.
- Education: We’ll provide instructions on posture, shoulder positioning, and safe activity modifications to protect the repair.
The Meat and Potatoes: Weeks 6-12
At this time most patients are released from the sling entirely and the focus shifts to therapy and restoring your shoulder function:
- What to Expect: You can expect a gradual increase in shoulder mobility through passive stretching, pulley assisted exercises, and self-stretching. In this phase, most patients are attending therapy two to three times per week. A home exercise program will be provided at this time and it is crucial to be consistent with a home program, along with therapy attendance, to achieve your desired outcome.
- Resistance Exercises: You will begin a progressive loading program at the guidance of your therapist to work on rotator cuff muscle activation, endurance, and strength. Heavy lifting or sustained overhead tasks are likely to still be challenging as you are developing strength.
- Gradual Increase in Activity: Our therapists will help you safely work towards your physical therapy goals and prior level of activity.
Long-Term Recovery: 3 Months and Beyond
While in person rehabilitation typically lasts 3-6 months depending on your goals, full recovery can take up to a year, and every individual’s journey is unique. Regular check-ins with your surgeon and physical therapist will help you stay on track.
- What to Expect: At this stage, full range of motion is typically restored and the primary focus is on higher level strength, stability, and endurance of the shoulder girdle. Many patients have resumed most daily activities and are working to return to regular exercise or sport. You may still experience some soreness or fatigue in the surgical region with increased activity, however, this will continue to improve with time, smart choices, and consistent work.
- Addressing Your Specific Goals: If you have specific goals that you would like to return to, such as golfing or swimming, we can begin to tailor your physical therapy program towards those goals in this phase of care.
Tips for a Smooth Recovery
- Stay Consistent: Being consistent and following your physical therapist’s guidance is key to regaining strength and mobility.
- Avoid Overdoing It: While it’s tempting to push through pain, listen to your body to avoid setbacks to help make steady improvement.
- Celebrate Progress: Recovery is a journey, so acknowledge small victories along the way!
We’re Here to Help!
At LifeMotion, we’re committed to helping you achieve the best outcome after a rotator cuff repair. Our expert doctors of physical therapy are here to provide personalized care and support throughout your recovery journey. If you have questions or want to schedule a consultation, call us at 918-574-2575, or click here to learn more.
Physical Therapy Facts
Did you know you can use your FSA/HSA for physical therapy? If you have been putting off PT, utilize your unused FSA/HSA dollars and schedule your consultation here.