• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Shoulder and Elbow Doctor – Buffalo, NY

Live Receptionist for Appointments: M-F 9 am – 5 pm: 716-204-3200

Dr. Matthew DiPaola

Dr. Matthew DiPaola

Buffalo, NY Shoulder and Elbow Doctor

  • Home
  • About
    • Philosophy
    • Dr. DiPaola
    • Locations
    • Patient Testimonials
  • Learn more
    • Videos
    • Shoulder Problems and Treatments
    • Elbow Problems and Treatments
    • Dr. DiPaola’s Shoulder and Elbow Blog
    • FAQ
      • Why Choose a Shoulder and Elbow Specialist?
      • General Practice and Office Visit
      • A Quick Checklist of Treatment Related Questions for Your Doctor
      • General FAQs About Surgery
      • Shoulder Surgery
      • Shoulder Replacement
      • Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
      • Hemiarthroplasty (Partial Shoulder Replacement) For Fracture
      • Rotator Cuff Repair
Contact

How Long Will Rehabilitation Take After Rotator Cuff Surgery? The Answer Usually Depends on One Key Factor.

Being told that you need rotator cuff surgery can be an intimidating prospect. 

Physical Therapy after Surgery

One of the main concerns is how much physical therapy you will need after surgery.  How long will therapy take?  And when will you finally be back doing what you want to do?

The truth is, most people need at least some physical therapy after rotator cuff surgery. But for some, it’s much shorter than they might expect.

The length of time you do therapy often depends on one key factor.  

Types of Shoulder Tissue Repair

That factor is whether you have some kind of tissue “repair” at the time of surgery.

To illustrate we will give an example of two identical twin brothers who were both told that they had “rotator cuff tears” but whose rehabilitation courses were far different.  We’ll call one Pat and the other Phil.

Pat and Phil both live in Buffalo NY, are 62 years old, and talk everyday on the phone. They both love to do woodworking, a hobby that is especially common here in Upstate NY,  Pennsylvania, and Canada. 

Recently both twins developed shoulder pain: Pat on the left and Phil on the right (they are mirror image twins). 

Pat’s pain started slowly.  He noticed it most after stacking wood planks on high shelves.  He couldn’t remember any injury per se, just that his shoulder had been hurting for the last few weeks and it was disrupting his sleep.

Phil, on the other hand had an accident.  He slipped in his workshop one day and fell directly onto his right shoulder.  He thought his pain would go away on it’s own too.  But it didn’t. 

The brothers’ primary care doctors had each of them try physical therapy and get MRIs.  Both were told that they had rotator cuff tears.

The therapy did not help so they both ended up getting arthroscopic surgery by same shoulder surgeon…on the same day.

But when the brothers reconvened after their surgeries, they were confused. 

Not All Rotator Cuff Tears Are The Same

Both brothers had surgery on their respective rotator cuffs.  But the surgeon told Phil that he would need 4-6 months of physical therapy and told Pat that he would need only 2-3 months. 

Why the difference?

We actually left out a key piece of the story earlier that makes all of the difference. 

What I neglected to tell you was that, while it’s true that they both brothers had “rotator cuff tears” their tears were not the same.

Pat’s tear was not as bad. When the surgeon did Pat’s arthroscopic surgery, he found that the rotator cuff was “frayed” but not completely torn off of the bone.  He had a partial tear.  He was thus able to just smooth it out or “debride” it and allow Pat to move his shoulder actively immediately after surgery.  He would be able to start strengthening it as soon as he was more comfortable.

Phil wasn’t so lucky.  When he fell off the ladder he tore 2 of his rotator muscles completely from the bone.  They needed to be reattached with sutures.  His rehab would be far longer. 

Rehabilitation Timing

The surgeon told him that because he had to put stitches through the tendons and repair the tissue (not just smooth it out) that the body would need more time to heal the tendon to bone.  He would also need to “protect the repair.”  In other words, Fred would have to wait to do “active” motion on his healing left shoulder to make sure that the tendon didn’t detach again before it had a chance to heal.  He wouldn’t be able to do strengthening exercises for 3 months.

Two twin brothers.  Two seemingly similar problems.  But two very different rehabilitation programs. 

In general rotator cuff tears that require “repairs” with stitches require longer rehabilitation- sometimes twice as long. This is because you have to protect the repaired tissues while they heal. In other words: you can’t stress the healing tissue much until it has knitted together.

—————————-

If you need rotator cuff surgery, the duration and speed at which you progress will depend in large part on whether your surgeon repaired your rotator cuff with stitches or not. 

Category iconPhysical Therapy,  Rotator Cuff,  Shoulder Problems and Treatments Tag iconBuffalo New York,  Canada,  physical therapy and rotator cuff,  rotator cuff surgery,  shoulder surgery

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Podcast: National Shoulder and Elbow Week.
  • How are Shoulders Like Onions?
  • The Arthroscopy and Simulation Lab at University at Buffalo: an inspiration for National Shoulder and Elbow Week
  • What are Multi Center Research Trials?
  • Where Does the Money Go?

Categories

  • Adolescents
  • Balloon Spacer
  • Decision Making
  • Dr. DiPaola's Blog
  • Elbow Problems and Treatments
  • Elbow Replacement
  • First Questions
  • Frozen Shoulder
  • General
  • MRI
  • Orthopedics
  • Physical Therapy
  • Rotator Cuff
  • Safety
  • Shoulder Arthritis
  • Shoulder Dislocation
  • Shoulder Fractures
  • Shoulder Labrum Tear
  • Shoulder Problems and Treatments
  • Shoulder Replacement
  • Sports Medicine
  • Uncategorized

Topics

Buffalo New York Canada lateral epicondylitis patients physical therapy and rotator cuff rotator cuff rotator cuff surgery rotator cuff tear shoulder pain shoulder replacement shoulder surgery smoking tennis elbow

Meet Dr. DiPaola

Matthew DiPaola MD 2020

Matthew DiPaola, M.D

Dr. DiPaola is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon and shoulder and elbow specialist. He has attained extensive training in the treatment of shoulder and elbow conditions and dedicates his practice to treating shoulder and elbow dysfunction with the most advanced surgical and non surgical … Read more about Matthew DiPaola, M.D

Contact Dr. DiPaola

Please contact me for an appointment or … Click here for more options about Contact Me

Are You Confused About Rotator Cuff Tears?

What are they? What is the right treatment for your rotator cuff? Why did your brother-in-law get surgery for his and you are only doing therapy? If you’re reading this you may already know how painful rotator cuff tears are. You yourself may have difficulty sleeping or lifting your arm overhead. … Read more about Are You Confused About Rotator Cuff Tears?

  • YouTube

If you are looking to:

  • Find out why your shoulder won't stop hurting at night
  • Wake up energized from a good night’s sleep again
  • Know if your shoulder pain is a sign of something serious, or if you can safely ignore it
Click Here to Make An Appointment

At your visit I will personally see you and:

  • Listen to your unique needs and goals
  • Review your imaging tests
  • Perform a physical exam
  • Fully explain your options
  • Answer your questions
...and get you on the road to a better night’s sleep.

In Good Health,
Matthew DiPaola M.D.

Footer

Recent Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8r2-I7xYzc

Useful Links

  • Shoulder Problems and Treatments
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Shoulder & Elbow Blog
  • Contact
  • Video

Phone

Appointments: 716-204-3200

Email

mdipaola@buffalo.edu

Address

4949 Harlem Rd, Amherst, NY  14221
Web Design
  • YouTube
Legal Disclaimer & Privacy Policy – Disclosure About TestimonialsCopyright Matthew DiPaola © 2025. All rights reserved.

Return to top