Can you get back to full function with enough physical therapy after a rotator cuff tear?

It depends.: If the rotator cuff tear is small and the muscles have not atropied significantly between the time of the tear and the time of the reconstruction, you should get much if not all of your function back. For this to happen it is very important to do your rehab after surgery.

Depends: It sounds like you are asking whether you can treat your tear with pt alone and avoid the need for an operation. This is a complex topic especially at your young age. Often in young patients like you we see rotator cuff tears in association with instability. I would recommend you consult with a shoulder specialist to get a clearer understanding of prognosis. http://www.theshouldercenter.com/vid.

It is possible.: Usually the smaller tears can do pretty well with physical therapy and regain pretty good function.