The purpose of this study was to evaluate the recovery patterns of pain and motion as well as final outcomes after rotator cuff repair according to tear size.

Sixty-one patients of rotator cuff repair (29 small to medium tear; group I, 32 large to massive tear; group II) through July 2000 to July 2003 were evaluated. Visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, range of motion (ROM) and motion fraction (MF) between glenohumeral and scapulothoracic joint were checked serially 2, 6 and 12 months after operation. Final outcomes were accessed by ASES, SST, and UCLA score.

Regardless of tear size, final outcomes were similar. But, recovery patterns of night pain were different from ROM and MF. In group I, night pain shown rapid initial recovery compared to more slow and gradual recovery pattern of group II. ROM and MF shown similar recovery patterns. MF recovery were gained after 12 months in group I, and 6 months in group II.

After careful evaluation of recovery patterns of pain, ROM and MF according to tear size, appropriate rehabilitation protocol could be applied to assist normal functional recovery.