Objective To explore the effect of PNF rehabilitation training on functional recovery of athletic rotator cuff injury.Methods Twenty-two young students with athletic rotator cuff injuries were stratified according to their gender and randomly divided into control group (resistance band + passive joint range of motion training group) and experimental group (PNF training group). The relevant indicators were detected. Results After training, VAS scores and pain positive rate in two groups were lower than the level before training, in which the experimental group was lower than the control group; muscle strength and active range in all directions﹠improved UCLA score of shoulder joint in the two groups were also higher than that before training, and the internal rotation muscle strength , the internal rotation and external rotation active range of motion﹠improved UCLA score of shoulder joint in the experimental group were also higher than that in the control group. Conclusions PNF rehabilitation training can reduce the pain of athletic rotator cuff injury of college students, improve the active range of motion, muscle strength and Improved UCLA shoulder joint score; the function recovery effect of PNF training is better than that of resistance band + passive range of motion training.