Candidates for rotator cuff tear surgery are those experiencing severe pain and very poor range of movement in the shoulder, and not responding to physiotherapy. An MRI scan will generally indicate whether there has been a significant tear that requires surgical intervention. People with acute injuries from falls or heavy lifting will usually require arthroscopic or open surgery if mobility is severely impaired, or if the tendon has retracted. This may also be the case for athletes, manual labourers and older adults experiencing severe degenerative injury from wear and tear to the shoulder.

Patients requiring surgery usually spend around 3-4 hours in the medical centre, while the actual surgical process is between 1-2 hours, depending on the size and complexity of your tear. In some cases additional procedures are required, like bone spur removal, which may take a little longer. Generally speaking, patients are able to go home the same day and commence their recovery.

Full rotator cuff repair can take up to twelve months, but most patients will see significant improvement 3-4 months after surgery if they’re diligent about their physiotherapy program.

Every patient requiring rotator cuff tear treatment will need to undertake a physical therapy program, whether they have had surgery or not. Simple exercises with bands or very light weights are used to gradually build strength around the complex supportive tissue in the shoulder joint. This can take many weeks of therapy—around 20-30 minutes each day. Regular check ups with your physiotherapist are required to assess improvement in your shoulder strength and to revise your program accordingly.