PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the pain, range of motion (ROM), upper extremity task performance, and functional levels of patients after rotator cuff repair according to the timing of a closed chain exercise thereby presenting basic data for an effective rehabilitation program. METHODS: The intervention was applied three times per week, one hour per day, for four weeks to 40 participants, 78 of whom had undergone rotator cuff repair. The participants were divided into four groups and assigned to usual general physical therapy and an open chain exercise. Group I consisted of the open chain exercise only. The closed chain exercise was applied to group II after the 4 times, group III after the 7 times, group IV after the 10 times. Measurement were used ROM, visual analogue scale (VAS), box and block test (BBT), and shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI). A one-way analysis of variance was conducted to test differences. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the internal/external rotation between group I and group II. The VAS significantly differed between group II and group I, group III, and group IV. The BBT results of group II and group I were significantly different compared to those of group IV. The SPADI significantly differed between group II and group I and between group II and group IV. CONCLUSION: The closed chain exercise was effective for patients following rotator cuff repair from the second week after active exercise was prescribed, verifying its applicability in rehabilitation programs.