Predicting How Exercise Helpful Rotator Cuff Tears Will Turn Out
Official title: Predicting the Outcome of Exercise Therapy for Treatment of Rotator Cuff Tears
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11401081 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at people with rotator cuff tears, the grant investigates how a personalized exercise program might lead to better shoulder function and fewer surgeries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 7, 2016 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $575,193 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR069503-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401081 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with symptomatic isolated supraspinatus tears considering initial treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with tears unlikely to respond to exercise or with differing tear characteristics may not experience the same benefits.
What this research studies
This project builds on a prior cohort of patients with isolated supraspinatus tears who followed a personalized exercise therapy program. It uses patient-specific data and computer models to understand why some people improve with exercise while others need surgery. The researchers plan to analyze outcomes such as shoulder range of motion, strength, and patient-reported quality of life, and to link these outcomes with mechanistic factors from the models. The ultimate goal is to identify factors that predict who will benefit most from exercise therapy and when surgery might be necessary.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with rotator cuff tears could receive more personalized treatment plans that reduce the need for surgery and improve recovery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed low surgery rates and improved function with personalized exercise therapy, supporting further mechanistic and predictive studies.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Debski, Richard E — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Debski, Richard E
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.