Shoulder Rehabilitation Exercises With Kinematic Biofeedback After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: Protocol for a New Integrated Rehabilitation Program

BACKGROUND

The recovery of scapular and humeral physiological kinematic parameters, as well as the sensorimotor control of movement, plays a primary role in the rehabilitation process after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. A highly customized rehabilitation approach is required to achieve this aim. Biofeedback can be a useful tool, but there is poor evidence of its application in the rehabilitation after arthroscopic rotator cuff tear repair.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this paper is to outline an innovative exercise-based rehabilitation program exploiting visual biofeedback for the recovery of patients arthroscopically treated for rotator cuff repair.

METHODS

For establishment of the innovative program, a multidisciplinary team involving experts in shoulder surgery, rehabilitation medicine, physical therapy, and biomedical and clinical engineering was formed. Starting from a conventional rehabilitation program, the team selected a set of exercises to be integrated with a biofeedback tool, named the INAIL (National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work) Shoulder and Elbow Outpatient program (ISEO program). ISEO is a motion analysis system based on inertial wearable sensors positioned over the thorax, scapula, humerus, and forearm. ISEO can return a visual biofeedback of humerus and scapula angles over time or of the scapula-humeral coordination, with possible overlap of patient-specific or asymptomatic reference values. A set of 12 progressive exercises was defined, divided into four groups based on humerus and scapula movements. Each group comprises 2-4 of the 12 exercises with an increasing level of complexity. Exercises can require the use of a ball, stick, rubber band, and/or towel. For each exercise, we present the starting position of the patient, the modality of execution, and the target position, together with notes about the critical factors to observe. The type of visual biofeedback to adopt is specified, such as the coordination between angles or the variation of a single angle over time. To guide the therapist in customizing the patient's rehabilitation program, a list of operative guidelines is provided.

RESULTS

We describe various applications of the ISEO exercise program in terms of frequency and intensity.

CONCLUSIONS

An innovative rehabilitation program to restore scapular and humeral kinematics after rotator cuff repair based on kinematic biofeedback is presented. Biofeedback is expected to increase patient awareness and self-correction under therapist supervision. Randomized controlled trials are needed to investigate the potential effect of the exercise-based biofeedback in comparison with conventional rehabilitation programs.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/35757.

Assessment of anatomical and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty with the scapula-weighted Constant-Murley score

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate total (TSA) and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) using the Constant-Murley score (CMS) and the scapula-weighted (SW) CMS, an integrated outcome measure that takes into account the compensatory movements of the scapula.

METHODS

Twenty-five consecutive patients, 12 with TSA and 13 with RTSA, underwent kinematic analysis before and after shoulder replacement. Measurements included flexion (FLEX) and abduction (ABD) for the humerus and Protraction-Retraction (PR-RE), Medio-Lateral rotation (ME-LA), and Posterior-Anterior tilting (P-A) for the scapula. They were recorded at baseline (T0) and at six (T1) and 12 months (T2). Reference data were obtained from 31 control shoulders.

RESULTS

At T1, differences in CMS and SW-CMS were not significant in either group, whereas values at T2 were significantly lower in RTSA patients (p = 0.310 and p = 0.327, respectively). In TSA shoulders, the compensatory scapular movements in FLEX were all reduced from T0 to T2, whereas P-A was increased in ABD. In RTSA patients, the compensatory scapular movements in FLEX showed a general reduction at T1, with an increase in P-A at T2, whereas in ABD, all increased at T1 and decreased at T2 except for P-A, which did not decrease.

DISCUSSION

The SW-CMS showed that the physiological scapulothoracic motion was not restored in TSA and RTSA patients; it may be used as a reference for the gradual progression of deltoid and scapular muscle rehabilitation.

CONCLUSIONS

The worse CMS and SW-CMS scores found in RTSA patients at six months may be due to the biomechanics of the reverse prosthesis and to the weakness of deltoid and periscapular muscles.

Assessment of the ability of wheelchair subjects with spinal cord injury to perform a specific protocol of shoulder training: a pilot study

BACKGROUND

a regular program of exercises in subjects with spinal cord injury (SCI) can contribute to reduce the risk of upper extremities injuries.

METHODS

in this prospective laboratory study we tested the hypothesis that a training machine developed for able-body users is suitable for a shoulder training protocol in 11 paraplegic subjects with SCI. Overall subjects were assessed with the SCIM III, CS, DASH and standard shoulder examination. We set a protocol of shoulder exercises performed with a training machine. Overall subjects were able to perform the protocol but 2 did not complete the exercises n° 6 and 7. The position of the wheelchair during each exercise was recorded. Wheelchair position/loading level were significantly correlated with the protocol n° 2, 3 and 5 as well as BMI/loading level for the exercises n° 5 and 9 and age/loading level for the exercise n° 7. Clinical scores were neither correlated with loading nor with anthropometric data.

RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS

FROM THE ANALYSIS OF DATA COLLECTED IN THIS STUDY ARISED THAT: 1) the training machine needs some adjustments for paraplegic subjects, 2) the training protocol was appropriate except for the exercises needing a torso-rotation and 3) the template for wheelchair position may be a valid guide for an optimal paraplegic shoulder training.