Digitally Assisted Versus Conventional Home-Based Rehabilitation After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical impact of a 12-wk home-based digitally assisted rehabilitation program after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair against conventional home-based rehabilitation. DESIGN: The digital therapy group performed independent technology-assisted sessions complemented with 13 face-to-face sessions, and the conventional therapy group had conventional face-to-face physical therapy (30 sessions). Primary outcome was functional change between baseline and 12 wks, measured through the Constant-Murley score. Secondary outcomes were the change in the QuickDASH Scale and shoulder range of motion. RESULTS: Fifty participants enrolled; 41 completed the 12-wk program (23 digital therapy group vs. 18 conventional therapy group), and 32 (15 vs. 17) were available for the 12-mo follow-up assessment. No differences were found between groups regarding study endpoints at the end of the 12-wk program. However, follow-up results revealed the superiority of the digital therapy group for QuickDASH (P = 0.043), as well as an interaction between time and group in the Constant-Murley score (P = 0.047) in favor of the digital therapy group. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that digital therapeutics can be used to achieve similar, if not superior, short- and long-term outcomes as conventional approaches after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, while being far less human resource intensive than conventional care. Level of evidence: II.