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Early Versus Delayed Rehabilitation After Rotator Cuff Repair Shows No Clear Benefit
Full Title
Effectiveness of early versus delayed rehabilitation following rotator cuff repair: Systematic review and meta-analyses.
Summary
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined 20 randomized controlled trials involving 1,841 patients to compare early versus delayed rehabilitation after rotator cuff repair. The study found no significant differences between the two approaches in terms of pain, function, strength, or repair integrity at any follow-up time point. Early rehabilitation provided slightly better range of motion in the short term, but this did not translate into better long-term outcomes. The findings support that delaying aggressive rehabilitation does not harm recovery, and that patients can benefit from a more conservative approach that prioritizes rest and protection of the healing tissue.