Patients Experiences of Rehabilitation Before and After Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty

Patients Experiences of Rehabilitation After Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty - a Qualitative Interview Study

Reverse shoulder arthroplasty is a complex surgical procedure requiring thorough rehabilitation, and its frequency is increasing globally. While previous studies have quantitatively examined postoperative outcomes, such as pain levels and shoulder function, no research has yet explored patients' subjective experiences of the rehabilitation process before and after surgery. Purpose of the study was to explore patients' experiences of undergoing reverse shoulder arthroplasty and the associated rehabilitation process.

Surgery with total shoulder arthroplasty is a procedure that has increased in number in the last twenty years, and it is the third most common prosthetic surgery in the world after hip and knee. There are two types of shoulder arthroplasty, anatomical and reverse. When the rotator cuff is severely impaired or completely dysfunctional, a reverse shoulder prosthesis is used, in which the anatomical positions of the ball and socket are reversed.

There are thus several factors that the treating physiotherapist needs to take into account. Research on reverse shoulder arthroplasty has primarily focused on evaluations using quantitative measures. Qualitative research from the patient's perspective can provide a deeper understanding of their expectations and experiences, offering insights that complement and fill the gaps left by quantitative research. Gaining insight into patients' experiences would be valuable for physiotherapists working with this group, as it may help identify areas for improvement in care to better meet patients' needs.

Inclusion Criteria:

The inclusion criteria encompassed patients who had undergone elective surgery involving reverse shoulder arthroplasty in the Västra Götaland region who demonstrated proficiency in both spoken and written Swedish.

Exclusion Criteria:

Exclusion criteria applied to cases where the study leader had served as the patient's physiotherapist, the presence of neurological disorders, or the occurrence of surgical complications, such as infection or fracture.