The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the evidence examining the effectiveness of nonoperative and operative interventions for the treatment of rotator cuff tears. The report is intended for a broad audience, including professional societies developing clinical practice guidelines, patients and their care providers, as well as researchers conducting studies on treatments of this condition. Outcomes of interest include health-related quality of life, shoulder function, time to return to work, cuff integrity, pain, range of motion and strength of the shoulder.