title: Early Versus Delayed Passive Range of Motion After Rotator Cuff Repair: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postoperative rehabilitation has been shown to affect healing of the rotator cuff after surgical repair. However, it is unknown whether an early or delayed rehabilitation protocol is most beneficial for healing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether early versus delayed passive range of motion (PROM) affects rotator cuff (RC) retear rates after surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review and meta-analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review of the literature published between January 2003 and February 2014 was conducted. Retear rates were compared for early (within 1 week after surgery) versus delayed (3-6 weeks after surgery) PROM using χ(2) or Fisher exact tests as well as relative risks (RR) and 95% CIs. In the first analysis, data from evidence level 1 studies that directly compared early versus delayed PROM were pooled; and in the second analysis, data from level 1 to 4 studies that did not directly compare early versus delayed PROM were pooled. The second analysis was stratified by tear size and repair method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-eight studies (1729 repairs) were included. The first analysis of level 1 studies did not reveal a significant difference in retear rates for early (13.7%) versus delayed (10.5%) PROM (P = .36; RR = 1.30 [95% CI, 0.74-2.30]). The second analysis revealed that for ≤3 cm tears, the risk of retear was lower for early versus delayed PROM for transosseous (TO) plus single-row anchor (SA) repairs (18.7% vs 28.2%, P = .02; RR = 0.66 [95% CI, 0.47-0.95]). For >5 cm tears, the risk of retear was greater for early versus delayed PROM for double-row anchor (DA) repairs (56.4% vs 20%, P = .002; RR = 2.82 [95% CI, 1.31-6.07]) and for all repair methods combined (52.2% vs 22.6%, P = .01; RR = 2.31 [95% CI, 1.16-4.61]). There were no statistically significant associations for tears measuring <1 cm, 1 to 3 cm, 3 to 5 cm, and >3 cm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evidence is lacking with regard to the optimal timing of PROM after RC repair; however, this study suggests that tear size may be influential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York.
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kluczynski
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York.
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nayyar
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York.
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Marzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York ljbisson@buffalo.edu.
authors.forename: Leslie J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Bisson
mesh_terms: D001182:Arthroscopy; D006801:Humans; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing
keywords: healing; passive range of motion; rehabilitation; rotator cuff