Duration of Immobilizer Sling Use for Rotator Cuff Tear

Current Evidence on Immobilization

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) guidelines state they "cannot recommend for or against the preferential use of an abduction pillow versus a standard sling after rotator cuff repair" due to insufficient clinical data 1, 3
Similarly, there is no conclusive evidence regarding the optimal timeframe for shoulder immobilization without range of motion exercises after rotator cuff repair 1, 2
After systematic review, no clinical data was found supporting or refuting a negative or positive effect of a sling, shoulder immobilizer, abduction pillow, or abduction brace on tendon healing or outcomes 3, 4

Local cold therapy is beneficial for pain relief after rotator cuff surgery (consensus recommendation) 3, 5
For non-surgical management of rotator cuff tears, there is no standardized recommendation for immobilization duration 6
Immobilization is typically used for pain control and to prevent further injury during the acute phase 7