About this trial
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile application for telemedicine in patients recovering from arthroscopic rotator cuff tendon repair. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: a test group using a mobile application for exercise guidance and monitoring, or a control group receiving standard paper-based exercise instructions. The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of rehabilitation, treatment adherence, cost savings, and patient satisfaction between the two methods over a 6-month follow-up period.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Demographics: Individuals aged 18 years or older.
Clinical Presentation: Persistent shoulder pain and functional deficits (e.g., positive impingement signs or weakness in abduction/external rotation) consistent with rotator cuff pathology.
Radiological Confirmation: Imaging evidence (MRI or high-resolution ultrasound) of a full-thickness supraspinatus and/or infraspinatus tendon tear.
Tear Characteristics: Small-to-medium-sized tears (maximum diameter < 5 cm) categorized as reparable by the attending surgeon.
Disqualifiers
Pre-existing or concomitant upper extremity dysfunction unrelated to the rotator cuff tear, including cervical disc herniation, cerebrovascular accident (stroke), traumatic brain injury, cervical spinal cord injury, rheumatoid arthritis with shoulder involvement, or brachial plexus injury.
Complex or irreparable rotator cuff tears, defined as large or massive tears (> 5 cm), high-grade fatty infiltration of the rotator cuff muscles (Goutallier grade ≥ 3), or inability to achieve secure tendon repair using sutures during arthroscopic surgery.
Postoperative complications that significantly interfere with rehabilitation, such as surgical site infection, nerve injury with paralysis, or severe deltoid muscle damage.
Severe comorbidities that may substantially affect the rehabilitation process or patient safety, including acute coronary syndrome, recent stroke, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, or other debilitating systemic diseases.
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Telerehabilitation
- Conventional home exercise program
Treatment groups
Locations
1Sponsors and collaborators
Hanoi Medical University
Lead sponsor