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Nonoperative Treatment of Rotator Cuff Tears

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Rotator Cuff Injuries

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Abstract

Historically patients with rotator cuff tears who presented with pain were treated with surgical repair; however recent evidence has demonstrated that nonoperative treatment is highly successful in patients with symptomatic atraumatic rotator cuff tears. The case presented highlights the effectiveness of physical therapy in treating chronic rotator cuff tears. Physical therapy should include scapular and glenohumeral motion and strengthening exercises as well as joint and soft-tissue mobilization to maximize a patient’s chance of successful treatment. Success with an exercise program is declared by 12 weeks. Patient expectation should be managed carefully as expectations are the most important feature predicting success with physical therapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 3200 MCE South Tower, 1215 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37205, USA

    John E. Kuhn M.D., M.S. & Richard Blalock M.D.

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  1. John E. Kuhn M.D., M.S.
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  2. Richard Blalock M.D.
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Correspondence to John E. Kuhn M.D., M.S. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. McMahon Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Department of Bioengineering University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Patrick J. McMahon

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Kuhn, J.E., Blalock, R. (2018). Nonoperative Treatment of Rotator Cuff Tears. In: McMahon, P. (eds) Rotator Cuff Injuries. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63668-9_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63668-9_22

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-63666-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-63668-9

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