Digital Biofeedback System Versus Conventional Rehabilitation After Rotator Cuff Repair

Efficacy of a Digital Kinematic Biofeedback System for Rehabilitation After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Versus Conventional In-person Rehabilitation: a Randomized Controlled Study

This study was designed to compare the clinical outcomes of a mixed home-based rehabilitation program after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, incorporating face-to-face sessions as well as sessions performed with a novel digital kinematic biofeedback system against conventional in-person home-based rehabilitation, with the intent of reducing the need for face-to-face sessions.

The investigators hypothesize that the clinical outcomes of such a program will be at least similar to those of conventional rehabilitation.

Patients will be enrolled pre-operatively and then randomized into 2 groups: experimental group and conventional rehabilitation group. Both groups will perform a 12 to 16-week rehabilitation program starting immediately after surgery.

Outcomes will be measured at baseline, 8 and 12 weeks. In patients where a decision is made to extend the program to 16 weeks, another assessment will be made at this point.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Shoulder pain and functional limitation with clinical examination compatible with rotator cuff tendinopathy
• Imaging (MRI or ultrasound) evidence of rotator cuff tear (supra and/or infraspinatus tendon tear inferior to 3 cm? or 5cm?)
• Indication for a simple rotator cuff repair according to the patient´s orthopedic surgeon
• Ability to understand simple and complex motor commands
• Availability of a carer to assist the patient after surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients admitted for revision cuff repair
• Complex cuff tears (involving subscapularis tendon or more than one tendon besides supra and infraspinatus, or massive dimension tears)
• Glenohumeral arthritis
• Irreparable tendon defect
• Patients with concomitant neurological disorders (ex. Stroke, Parkinson´s disease, multiple sclerosis)
• Aphasia, dementia or psychiatric comorbidity interfering with the communication or compliance to the rehabilitation process
• Respiratory, cardiac, metabolic conditions or others incompatible with at least 30 minutes of light to moderate physical activity
• Major medical complications occurring after surgery that prevent the discharge of the patient within 10 days after surgery
• Other medical and/or surgical complications that prevent the patient from complying with a rehabilitation program
• Blind and/or illiterate patients