Background: Supraspinatus tear is common in adults post 60 years of age but a full-thickness tear of this muscle, solely is rare. In such cases, the arthroscopic repair is done. Rehabilitation post arthroscopic repair lasts for 4-6months depending upon the extent of the tear and focuses on reducing pain and inflammation and improving ROM and strength. The primary goal of therapy is to prevent contractures and stiffness, maintain the integrity of the repair and make the patient independent. The treatment protocol has four phases:-immediate post-operative phases, protection and protective active motion phase; early strengthening phase advanced strengthening phase. Case Description: A female 61 years of age visited AVBRH due to extreme shoulder pain and difficulty performing overhead activities after pressurizing her shoulder while attempting to balance with a stick. An MRI revealed a full-thickness supraspinatus tear in the right shoulder, which was treated with the arthroscopic repair of the torn muscle. Diagnosis, Therapeutic intervention and outcomes: A full-thickness supraspinatus tear was diagnosed in the patient. Patient education, ROM exercise, and exercise strengthening were part of the therapeutic intervention. The overall intervention resulted in an improvement in ADL. Conclusion: This study suggests that surgical intervention and physical therapy can help increase muscle strength and range of motion and reduce pain. It also improves the quality of life by increasing ADL activities.
Keywords: Supraspinatus tear, arthroscopic repair, physical therapy,
rehabilitation