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Comparative Study
. 2025 Jun;49(6):1411-1420.
doi: 10.1007/s00264-025-06477-5. Epub 2025 Mar 7.

Assessment of the efficacy of early versus delayed mobility exercise after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

Hong Tang  1 , Pushan Yang  1 , Xu Wang  1 , Biao Zhao  1 , Kun Ling  2
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Assessment of the efficacy of early versus delayed mobility exercise after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

Hong Tang et al. Int Orthop. 2025 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose: Rotator cuff tears were a prevalent cause of shoulder pain and impairment, often necessitating arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. The optimal timing of postoperative mobilization initiation remains a subject of debate implicating patient outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of early and delayed mobilization after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Methods: A total of 84 patients who underwent unilateral arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were included in the study and divided into early and delayed mobility exercise groups. Outcome measures included range of motion, shoulder strength, pain assessment, re-tear rates, return to work and pre-injury activity, as well as patient-reported outcomes at various postoperative time points.

Results: Early mobility exercise after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair led to a significantly greater recovery of range of motion at six weeks postoperatively (P < 0.05) and shoulder strength at 12 weeks postoperatively (P < 0.05), as compared to the delayed mobility exercise group. However, the early mobility exercise resulted in non-significant excess in the pain assessment at the six-month postoperative mark (P > 0.05). Additionally, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in several outcome measures, including re-tear rates, return to work and pre-injury activity, and long-term patient-reported outcomes at one year post-operatively (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: Both early and delayed mobilization exercises safely improve range of motion, shoulder strength, and pain relief after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Early mobilization within six to 12 weeks post-surgery enhances range of motion and strength without increasing re-tear rates.

Trial registration: Not applicable.

Keywords: Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair; Delayed mobility exercise; Early mobility exercise; Efficacy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Human ethics and consent to participate: The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Guangyuan Central Hospital in accordance with regulatory and ethical guidelines pertaining to retrospective research studies. Informed consent was waived for this retrospective study due to the exclusive use of de-identified patient data, which posed no potential harm or impact on patient care. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Clinical trial number: Not applicable.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The early mobility exercise group vs. the delayed mobility exercise group. Range of Motion at 6 Weeks Post-Op including (A) Flexion, (B) Abduction, (C) External rotation, (D) Internal rotation, and (E) Horizontal adduction
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The early mobility exercise group vs. the delayed mobility exercise group. Shoulder Strength at 12 Weeks Post-Op including (A) Flexion, (B) Abduction, (C) External rotation, (D) Internal rotation, and (E) Horizontal adduction
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The early mobility exercise group vs. the delayed mobility exercise group. Re-tear Rates at 1 Year Post-Op
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