Rehabilitation of Reconstructed Shoulder Rotator Cuff

Lawson Health Research Institute

Status: Completed

Conditions: Full Thickness Rotator Cuff Tear

Treatments: Other: standard care; Procedure: Standard physical therapy program PLUS aquatic physical therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01499992

18466

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study to define the optimal rehabilitation for clients with full thickness rotator cuff reconstruction, with two goals: 1. Finding the optimal physical therapy dosage in enhancing post-operative outcomes of shoulder pain, shoulder joint range of motion, shoulder muscle strength, upper extremity function; and 2. Finding the effect of aquatic physical therapy in enhancing the post-operative outcomes.

Full description

Measurement devices:

Biodex: Biodex system is a muscle strength testing and rehabilitation instrument used in the testing and rehabilitation services for shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee and ankle. Modes of operation for exercise and testing include isokinetic, passive, isometric, isotonic, and reactive eccentric. Patients are tested for their muscle performance for the required number of repetitions in the required mode. The muscle performance is measured by calculating the average peak torque (in Nm) and analyzed across the group of patients.

Goniometer: A manual devise used to measure joint range of motion. Visual Analogue Scale: A scale with 0 to 10, with 0 being no pain, and 10 being severe pain.

Measurement procedure:

All the subjects posted for surgery will be tested prior to and again 6 weeks following surgery for:

Shoulder Pain is measured using a visual analog scale. Shoulder Range of motion is measured using a standard goniometer. Shoulder Muscle performances are measured using Biodex.

Enrollment: 14 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• full thickness rotator cuff tear treated by arthroscopic or mini-open repair by a specialized upper extremity surgeons
• mentally competent
• able to read and write
• able to return for follow-up
• 18-65 years old

Exclusion criteria

• associated surgical procedures (Concomitant fractures, capsular releases surgical decompression)
• nerve injury
• neurological conditions
• irreparable massive rotator cuff tear, and
• comorbid health problems that limit rehabilitation potential (Rheumatoid arthritis, Diabetes).

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Factorial Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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14 participants in 2 patient groups

aquatic physical therapy

Experimental group

Description:

aquatic physical therapy program which will be conducted twice weekly for 10 weeks and will include a 40-50 minute hydrotherapy session emphasizing range of motion and light resistive exercises of the arm, primarily focussing on the shoulder.

Treatment:

Other: standard care

Procedure: Standard physical therapy program PLUS aquatic physical therapy

standard care

No Intervention group