Using a mobile app for self-rehabilitation after rotator cuff surgery
Using a Mobile APP to Support Home-based Rehabilitation for Patients With Rotator Cuff Tear After Arthroscopic Repair
This study tests if using a mobile app for rehabilitation after rotator cuff surgery can help patients recover as well as traditional in-person therapy.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Ages | 20 Years to 70 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital. Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Kaohsiung City) |
| Trial ID | NCT05102968 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study evaluates the effectiveness of a mobile application designed to support home-based rehabilitation for patients recovering from arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Participants are randomly assigned to either a home-based rehabilitation group using the app or a supervised rehabilitation group receiving in-person therapy. The goal is to determine if the outcomes from the app-supported rehabilitation are comparable to traditional supervised methods. The study addresses the common complications of joint stiffness and cuff re-tear that can occur post-surgery, while also considering the financial burden of supervised rehabilitation.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are patients with small to medium-sized full-thickness rotator cuff tears or specific subscapularis tears who are willing to participate in a two-year follow-up.
Not a fit: Patients with pre-operative shoulder stiffness, irreparable cuff tears, prior shoulder surgeries, or systemic autoimmune diseases may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a cost-effective rehabilitation option that maintains or improves recovery outcomes for patients after rotator cuff surgery.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown that home-based rehabilitation can yield comparable outcomes to supervised rehabilitation in similar contexts, suggesting potential for success in this approach.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * patients had a small to medium-sized (less than 3 cm) full-thickness rotator cuff tear or, a Lafosse type II or III subscapularis tear diagnosed and repaired by shoulder arthroscope * patients were willing to consent to post-operative rehabilitation randomization and commit to the two-year clinical follow-up period. Exclusion Criteria: * pre-operative shoulder stiffness (defined as passive forward elevation less than 100 degrees and external rotation loss over 50% comparing to the contralateral side) * an intra-operative irreparable cuff tear * a prior ipsilateral shoulder surgery * a history of systemic auto-immune disease or septic arthritis of the ipsilateral shoulder
Where this trial is running
Kaohsiung City
- Kaohsiung Veterns General Hospital — Kaohsiung City, Taiwan (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Futing Huang, MD
- Email: fthuang@vghks.gov.tw
- Phone: 886-910775551
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.