Sling Use and Functional Mobility in a Geriatric Population
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About
Shoulder slings are commonly worn after shoulder surgery. In geriatric patients, painstaking care is taken to reduce any factors that may increase the chance of experiencing a fall. Currently, it is not understood if wearing a sling affects someone's general gait and balance.
Full description
Following many shoulder operations, patients are immobilized in an bulky sling with non-weight bearing restrictions for periods of up to 6 weeks. This is necessary to allow for soft tissue healing particularly following repair of rotator cuff tears and shoulder replacement surgeries, two common procedures performed in the elderly population. Previous studies have shown that natural arm swing plays an essential role in maintaining balance and normal gait patterns. Decreased functional mobility and gait impairment has been shown to increase the risk of falls, mortality, and morbidity in an elderly population. However, following upper extremity surgery requiring the use of a sling, targeted therapy for gait and balance training is rarely prescribed. Consequently, the investigators wish to assess whether or not sling use impacts functional mobility test scores in an elderly population. The aim of this project is to maximize perioperative functionality in these patients in efforts to prevent any unanticipated secondary injury.
Enrollment
Sex
Ages
Volunteers
Inclusion criteria
- Greater than or equal to 65 years of age
Exclusion criteria
- Younger than 65 years of age
- Pre-existing cognitive impairment
- Pre-existing mobility impairment
- Pre-existing symptomatic upper or lower extremity disease
Trial design
Primary purpose
Allocation
Interventional model
Masking
50 participants in 2 patient groups
Trial contacts and locations
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Data sourced from clinicaltrials.gov
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