Relationship between Lifestyle and Shoulder Motor Function after Reconstruction of Rotator Cuff Tear

In this study, both a questionnaire survey and a functional assessment were performed. The results were examined to clarify factors which might influence clinical symptoms in patients with surgical repairs following complete rotator cuff tear. In addition, evidence on which to base postoperative activities of daily living and rehabilitation was elucidated. The percentage of patients with satisfactory postoperative outcomes was 82.3%, and that of those with unsatisfactory outcomes was 17.7%, which shows that the function of, and pain in the shoulder improved in most cases after the surgical repairs. There were significant differences in activities of daily living and mobility depending on time from the surgery, presence of pain, and presence of activity limitation. The majority of the satisfactory group had returned to their original jobs, but many males in the unsatisfactory group could not do any work due to activity limitation, and many females in the unsatisfactory group were doing household work complaining of pain and activity limitation. In addition, muscular weakness and persistence of mild limitation in the range of motion were seen on the operated side. These results indicate that a long-term approach to improve the muscle strength and the range of motion as well as pain management and improvement of activity levels, especially for women doing housework, are necessary to improve the lifestyles of patients who have undergone the surgical repair of rotator cuff tear.