The Effectiveness of Graston Tecnique Compared to Traditional Physiotherapy to Improve Range of Motion After Arthroscopic Cuff Repair.

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Cuff Tear Arthropathy
• Interventions: Other: graston tecnique; Other: Conventional rehabilitation

• Registration Number: NCT05315440
• Lead Sponsor: Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli

Brief Summary

In shoulder rehabilitation after arthroscopic cuff repair, one of first objectives coincides with improving the range of passive movement: this process often requires considerable time of both patients and physiotherapists. This study aims to verify whether it is useful to add instruments assisted soft-tissue mobilization according to Graston Tecnique to the classic rehabilitation protocol in order to accelerate recovery times of passive range of motion.

Detailed Description

There is conflicting evidence about early versus delayed postoperative rehabilitation after arthroscopic cuff repair: early protocol seems to reduce the risk of stiffness but could increase the risk of rupture of the tendon in long time, especially for large tears; delayed protocol impose a period of shoulder immobilization (from 2 weeks to 40-day) that can promote tendons healing but could determine shoulder stiffness. Our research question is if after the delayed protocol used in our institute (40 -day immobilization period) it migh be useful to add soft-tissue mobilization assisted by instruments according to Graston Tecnique to the classic rehabilitation protocol of the shoulder in order to speed up recovery times of the passive movement range.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2020-11-12
• Study First Submitted: 2021-09-14
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-03-29
• Study First Posted: 2022-04-07
• Status Verified: 2024-07
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-07-17
• Last Update Posted: 2024-07-18
• Primary Completion: 2026-01-31
• Study Completion: 2026-01-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 70

Inclusion Criteria

• arthroscopic rotator cuff repair
• partial lesion due to tendon degeneration (1 or 2 anchors reparation)

Exclusion Criteria

• traumatic tendon lesions
• associated conditions as arthritis, loss of superficial sensitivity, loss of muscle tone, mental impairment, oncological conditions
• shoulder stiffness before surgery due to calcific tendonitis, adhesive capsulitis

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
experimental group	graston tecnique	30 minutes of passive and active assisted mobilization guided by the therapist associated with instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization, 30 min of Continous passive movement in flexion and abduction and 30 minutes of electrostimulation.
control group	Conventional rehabilitation	The treatment of control group will be organized according to the classic protocol currently in use in our Institute which consists of: 30 minutes of passive and active assisted mobilization guided by the therapist, 30 min of Continous passive movement in flexion and abduction and 30 minutes of electrostimulation.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Passive Range of Motion Recovery of the Shoulder	after 2 weeks of treatment	Passive Range of Motion Recovery of the Shoulder in elevation and abduction measured by digital inclinometer

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Reduction of pain measured by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)	after 2 weeks of treatment	The visual analog scale (VAS) is a validated, subjective measure for acute and chronic pain. Scores are recorded by making a handwritten mark on a 10-cm line that represents a continuum between 0 ("no pain") and 10 ("worst pain").
Shoulder function improvement measured by Constant Murley and Dash scales	after 2 weeks of treatment	The Constant-Murley score is a 100-points scale composed of a number of individual parameters that define the level of pain and the ability to carry out the normal daily activities of the patient. The test is divided into 4 subscales: pain (15 points), activities of daily living (20 points), strength (25 points) and range of motion (40 points). The higher the score, the higher the quality of the function. Since the test is carried out in an acute post-surgery phase, it is not possible to carry out the evaluation of strength, which is assigned a score of zero for all patients. The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire is a 30-item questionnaire that looks at the ability of a patient to perform certain upper extremity activities. This questionnaire is a self-report questionnaire that patients can rate difficulty and interference with daily life on a 5 point Likert scale.The score ranges from 0 (no disability) to 100 (most severe disability).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli; 🇮🇹 Bologna, BO, Italy