New study settles debate: surgery or PT for torn rotator cuff?
NCT ID NCT03295994
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study compared surgery to physical therapy for people with rotator cuff tears (a common cause of shoulder pain). 187 adults aged 40-84 with MRI-confirmed tears were randomly assigned to either arthroscopic surgery or physical therapy. The goal was to see which treatment better improves shoulder pain and function over time.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery and physical therapy
What this could lead to
If successful, this could help doctors and patients decide whether surgery or physical therapy is the better first step for treating rotator cuff tears.
What could go wrong
This trial is completed but relatively small (187 people). Results may not apply to everyone, and individual outcomes can vary widely.
Disclaimer
Read more
Show less
This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for ROTATOR CUFF TEAR are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Show contact details
Enter your email to view the contact information for this study.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Locations
-
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
-
Boston Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, United States
-
Johns Hopkins
Baltimore, Maryland, 21218, United States
-
Mayo Clinic
Phoenix, Arizona, 85054, United States
-
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina, 29425, United States
-
Ortho Tennessee - Knoxville Orthopedic Clinic
Knoxville, Tennessee, 37922, United States
-
Ortho Virginia
Richmond, Virginia, 23294, United States
-
Orthopedic Institute
Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 57105, United States
-
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Columbus, Ohio, 43202, United States
-
University of California - San Francisco (UCSF)
San Francisco, California, 94158, United States
-
University of Colorado - Denver
Denver, Colorado, 80222, United States
-
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa, 52242, United States
-
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky, 40536, United States
-
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48106, United States
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
-
University of Texas Southwestern
Dallas, Texas, 75390, United States
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States
-
Washington University
St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States
-
Western Orthopaedics
Denver, Colorado, 80218, United States