Rehabilitation of the shoulder following rotator cuff injury or surgery.

Rotator cuff problems are encountered frequently and must be rehabilitated precisely. The pace and intensity of the program are regulated by the degree of pathology and the patient's activity requirements. As our ability to understand the biomechanics of shoulder motion improves, we realize that many rotator cuff problems are secondary to instability. This instability can be subtle. The following article details a rehabilitative program for patients with rotator cuff pathology and includes both conservative and postoperative programs for pathology secondary to instability as well as primary impingement.