A common question asked by patients is do rotator cuff tears require surgery? This depends on the condition of the muscles in the other shoulder joint and the age of the patient. Many older patients have rotator cuff tears but are asymptomatic and can move normally. One study demonstrated that 40% of patients over the age of 70 with rotator cuff tears were asymptomatic. The goal of physical therapy is to maximize the function of the healthy tendon and hopefully avoid surgery. In the younger population, especially if the rotator cuff tear is the result of acute trauma, early surgical repair of the rotator cuff is advisable to ensure functional recovery.