OBJECTIVE: There is no consensus about the optimal frequency of patient visits during the rehabilitation program after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR). This study aimed to investigate the short and long-term effects of high-frequency (HF) and low-frequency (LF) visits of the patients in the first 12 weeks of rehabilitation after ARCR. METHODS: This was a quasi-randomized study with 2 parallel groups. Forty-seven patients with ARCR were included in 2 different patient visit frequency protocols (HF = 23, LF = 24) in 12 weeks of postoperative rehabilitation. Patients in the HF group visited the clinic twice a week, whereas patients in the LF group visited once every 2 weeks for the first 6 weeks, and once a week for the following 6 weeks. Both groups performed the same exercise protocol. Outcome measurements were pain and range of motion measured at baseline; at the 3rd, 5th, 8th, 12th, and 24th weeks; and at 1 year follow-up. Shoulder function was assessed at the 12th and 24th weeks and at 1 year follow-up with an American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score. RESULTS: There was a significant group X time interaction in pain intensity during the activity between the groups. The activity pain intensity was higher in the LF group (4.2 points) at 8th weeks post-surgery then the HF group (2.7 points) (mean difference: 1.5 points, p < 0.05) whereas it was similar in both groups at other time periods. The interaction term was not significant between the groups for pain intensity during rest and night through the 1 year follow-up. No group x time interactions were observed in shoulder range of motion and ASES score over the postoperative period. CONCLUSION: Both rehabilitation programs at different visit frequencies after ARCR showed similar clinical results in the long term. A supervised, controlled rehabilitation program with LF visits in the first 12 weeks after surgery can be sufficient to achieve optimal clinical results and to reduce rehabilitation-related costs after ARCR.

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