Ke-Vin Chang1, Chen-Yu Hung2, Der-Sheng Han3, Wen-Shiang Chen2, Tyng-Guey Wang2, Kuo-Liong Chien4. 1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital-Bei-Hu Branch, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan Graduate Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. 2. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. 3. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital-Bei-Hu Branch, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. 4. Graduate Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan klchien@ntu.edu.tw.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Postoperative shoulder stiffness complicates functional recovery after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. PURPOSE: To compare early passive range of motion (ROM) exercise with a delayed rehabilitation protocol with regard to the effectiveness of stiffness reduction and functional improvements and rates of improper healing in patients undergoing arthroscopic repair for torn rotator cuffs. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing both rehabilitation approaches were identified in PubMed and Scopus. Between-group differences in shoulder function were transformed to effect sizes for comparisons, whereas the effectiveness against stiffness and the risk of tendon failure were reported using standardized mean differences of ROM degrees and odds ratios (ORs) of recurrent tears, respectively. RESULTS: Six RCTs were included, consisting of 482 patients. No significant difference in shoulder function existed across both protocols. The early ROM group demonstrated more improvement in shoulder forward flexion than the delayed rehabilitation group, with a standardized mean difference of 7.45° (95% CI, 3.20°-11.70°) at 6 months and 3.51° (95% CI, 0.31°-6.71°) at 12 months. Early ROM exercise tended to cause a higher rate of recurrent tendon tears (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 0.90-2.28), and the effect became statistically significant (OR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.04-3.60) after excluding 2 RCTs that recruited only those patients with small to medium-sized tears. CONCLUSION: Early ROM exercise accelerated recovery from postoperative stiffness for patients after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair but was likely to result in improper tendon healing in shoulders with large-sized tears. The choice of either protocol should be based on an accommodation of the risks of recurrent tears and postoperative shoulder stiffness.
BACKGROUND: Postoperative shoulder stiffness complicates functional recovery after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. PURPOSE: To compare early passive range of motion (ROM) exercise with a delayed rehabilitation protocol with regard to the effectiveness of stiffness reduction and functional improvements and rates of improper healing in patients undergoing arthroscopic repair for torn rotator cuffs. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing both rehabilitation approaches were identified in PubMed and Scopus. Between-group differences in shoulder function were transformed to effect sizes for comparisons, whereas the effectiveness against stiffness and the risk of tendon failure were reported using standardized mean differences of ROM degrees and odds ratios (ORs) of recurrent tears, respectively. RESULTS: Six RCTs were included, consisting of 482 patients. No significant difference in shoulder function existed across both protocols. The early ROM group demonstrated more improvement in shoulder forward flexion than the delayed rehabilitation group, with a standardized mean difference of 7.45° (95% CI, 3.20°-11.70°) at 6 months and 3.51° (95% CI, 0.31°-6.71°) at 12 months. Early ROM exercise tended to cause a higher rate of recurrent tendon tears (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 0.90-2.28), and the effect became statistically significant (OR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.04-3.60) after excluding 2 RCTs that recruited only those patients with small to medium-sized tears. CONCLUSION: Early ROM exercise accelerated recovery from postoperative stiffness for patients after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair but was likely to result in improper tendon healing in shoulders with large-sized tears. The choice of either protocol should be based on an accommodation of the risks of recurrent tears and postoperative shoulder stiffness.
Authors: Chris Littlewood; Marcus Bateman; David Clark; James Selfe; Duncan Watkinson; Mike Walton; Lennard Funk Journal: Shoulder Elbow Date: 2015-01-29
Authors: Todd S Ellenbecker; Scott Dickenson; Susan Merriman; Ted Sueyoushi; Tad E Pieczynski; David S Bailie Journal: Int J Sports Phys Ther Date: 2020-10