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Prompt: Rotator Cuff Repair Physiotherapy Referral Letter

A copy-paste-ready prompt for drafting a structured physiotherapy referral letter following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Rotator Cuff Repair Physiotherapy Referral Letter

Use this prompt to draft a physiotherapy referral letter following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. The protocol phases should reflect your own post-operative rehabilitation protocol — adjust the placeholders accordingly.

Try it yourself
Draft a physiotherapy referral letter following arthroscopic 
rotator cuff repair.

Procedure: [[procedure — e.g. "arthroscopic repair of 
full-thickness supraspinatus tear, single anchor fixation"]].
Patient: aged [[patient_age — e.g. "52"]], 
[[hand_dominance — e.g. "right-hand dominant"]], 
[[occupation — e.g. "office worker with occasional light 
manual tasks"]].

Rehabilitation protocol:
Phase 1 ([[weeks — e.g. "weeks 0–6"]]): 
[[phase1 — e.g. "sling immobilisation; pendulum exercises only; 
no active shoulder movement; no lifting; 
scapular retraction exercises permitted"]]

Phase 2 ([[weeks — e.g. "weeks 6–12"]]): 
[[phase2 — e.g. "remove sling; passive range of motion; 
progress to active-assisted by week 8; 
target 90 degrees elevation by week 10"]]

Phase 3 ([[weeks — e.g. "weeks 12+"]]): 
[[phase3 — e.g. "active strengthening — begin scapular 
stabilisers, progress to rotator cuff strengthening; 
avoid resisted external rotation until week 16"]]

Goals: [[goals — e.g. "full passive range of motion by 
4 months; return to light occupation at 3 months; 
return to full overhead work at 6 months"]]

Red flags to report back: [[red_flags — e.g. "failure to 
achieve expected passive ROM milestones; significant pain 
with passive movement; suspected re-tear"]]

Format: professional referral letter.

Why this works

Rotator cuff repairs have highly specific rehabilitation protocols where premature active movement can cause re-tear. Providing the detailed phase-by-phase protocol in the prompt ensures the physiotherapist receives precise guidance — not a generic shoulder protocol. Specifying when to report back protects both the patient and the clinical relationship.

How to tweak it

  • For a larger or more complex tear requiring extended protection, add to Phase 1: "Note that this is a large tear requiring extended protective phase. Please contact the surgical team before progressing to Phase 2 if there is any doubt."
  • For a patient with a pre-existing condition affecting rehabilitation, add: "The patient has [[condition — e.g. 'mild adhesive capsulitis on the opposite shoulder']] — please take this into account when designing the programme."

Remember: AI is a helpful assistant, not a clinician. You make the call.

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