MedPath

Hydrotherapy Versus Classical Rehabilitation After Surgical Rotator Cuff Repair

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Rotator Cuff Tears
Interventions
Other: Hydrotherapy
Other: Land-based Therapy
Registration Number
NCT05106842
Lead Sponsor
La Tour Hospital
Brief Summary

Postoperative rehabilitation following rotator cuff repair is important to promote tendon healing, restore strength, and recover normal function. The aim of this study is to assess whether aquatic rehabilitation is more efficient than classical rehabilitation (land-based session) in term of range of motion, function, and pain than classical rehabilitation (land-based session) after an arthroscopic repair of the rotator cuff.

Detailed Description

Introduction:

Postoperative rehabilitation following rotator cuff repair is important to promote tendon healing, restore strength, and recover normal function. Aquatic rehabilitation in hot water allows body relaxation and well-being that promote patient conditioning for efficient rehabilitation and is appreciated by patients. The aim of this study is to assess whether aquatic rehabilitation is more efficient than classical rehabilitation (land-based session) in term of range of motion, function, and pain after an arthroscopic repair of the rotator cuff.

Methods:

This prospective case-control clinical study is randomized 1:1 between rehabilitation with hydrotherapy and land-based (standard) rehabilitation. This superiority trial that included 84 patients that have benefited from an arthroscopic superior cuff repair. Patients were evaluated clinically at 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 24 months and using ultrasound at 6 months. Multivariable linear regressions were performed to determine if 2-year postoperative scores were associated with gender, body mass index (BMI), age at index operation, rehabilitation group (Hydrotherapy vs Standard), and baseline passive range of motion (PROM) Active range of motion (AROM).

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
84
Inclusion Criteria
  • 18 years old or more
  • Arthroscopic cuff repair of supraspinatus tendon (with potentially concomitant of infraspinatus tendon repair, tenodesis or tenotomy of brachial biceps tendon, acromioplasty, and distal clavicle removal).
Exclusion Criteria
  • Lesion of subscapularis tendon;
  • SLAP lesion;
  • Second rotator cuff surgery;
  • Frozen shoulder (i.e. Forward flexion reduced of 25% or more);
  • Inability to follow the study protocol

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Hydrotherapy after Rotator Cuff RepairHydrotherapyThe participants will start with passive mobilization right after surgery for 4 weeks. Intervention in hydrotherapy will follow after that.
Classical Land Based Rehabilitation after Rotator Cuff RepairLand-based TherapyThe participants will start with passive mobilization right after surgery for 4 weeks. Intervention in classic dry land based rehabilitation will follow after that.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Passive forward flexion1.5 months

As primary outcome, we will evaluate if passive antepulsion is superior with balneotherapy than classical rehabilitation (land-based session). We consider the effective intervention with a 105 ° forward flexion.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Pain (Visual Analogue Scale)1.5 months

Minimum score is 0 while maximum score is 10. The higher the score, the worse is the outcome.

Constant Score1.5 months

Minimum score is 0 while maximum score is 100. The higher the score, the better is the outcome.

Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) score1.5 months

Minimum score is 0 while the maximum score is 100. The higher the score, the better the outcome.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

La Tour Hospital

🇨🇭

Meyrin, Geneva, Switzerland

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath