Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2019 Apr;14(2):318-332.

REHABILITATION FOLLOWING SUBSCAPULARIS TENDON REPAIR

Burak Altintas, Helen Bradley  1 , Catherine Logan, Brooke Delvecchio  1 , Nicole Anderson  2 , Peter J Millett
Affiliations

REHABILITATION FOLLOWING SUBSCAPULARIS TENDON REPAIR

Burak Altintas et al. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2019 Apr.

Abstract

Subscapularis (SSC) tendon tears are less common than tears of the remaining rotator cuff tendons, but one with serious consequences given its function as one of the main internal rotators and anterior stabilizers. Mild fraying involving the upper third of the tendon can be treated non-operatively; however, more substantive tears usually require repair in cases of pain or functional impairment. Given the importance of the subscapularis tendon in maintaining stability of the glenohumeral joint and performing internal rotation of the arm, surgical intervention with emphasis on repair may be recommended to eliminate pain and restore strength. Postoperative rehabilitation through phased progression is utilized to avoid premature stress on the healing tissue while enabling early return to daily activities. The purpose of this clinical commentary is to provide an evidence-based description of postoperative rehabilitation following SSC tendon repair with guidance for safe and effective return to activity and sports.

Level of evidence: 5.

Keywords: Repair; Return to sport; Shoulder; Subscapularis tear.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Supine active-assisted range of motion abduction on slide board with bar.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
a, b) Sidelying abduction c) Rhythmic stabilization.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Prone horizontal abduction (T's).
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Wall slides with foam roller (No load).
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Internal rotation at 45o with elbow supported on table using sport cord.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Dynamic hug with sport cord.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Handheld dynamometer (HHD) testing – Belly press.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
Handheld dynamometer (HHD) testing – Internal rotation at 90 °.
Figure 9.
Figure 9.
A) Side throw against wall with medicine ball (start) B) Side throw against wall with medicine ball (finish).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Halder A Zobitz ME Schultz F An KN. Structural properties of the subscapularis tendon. J Orthop Res. 2000;18(5):829-834. - PubMed
    1. Narasimhan R Shamse K Nash C Dhingra D Kennedy S. Prevalence of subscapularis tears and accuracy of shoulder ultrasound in pre-operative diagnosis. Int Orthop. 2016;40(5):975-979. - PubMed
    1. Garavaglia G Taverna E Ufenast H. The frequency of subscapularis tears in arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs: A retrospective study comparing magnetic resonance imaging and arthroscopic findings. Int J Shoulder Surg. 2011;5(4):90. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Braun S Horan MP Elser F Millett PJ. Lesions of the biceps pulley. Am J Sports Med. 2011;39(4):790-795. - PubMed
    1. Fox AJ Romeo A. Arthroscopic subscapularis repair. Annual meeting of AAOS, New Orleans, Louisiana; 2003.

LinkOut - more resources