Digitally assisted vs conventional home-based rehabilitation after rotator cuff repair: A meta-analysis.
OrthoEvidence Journal (OE Journal) - ACE Report
OE Journal. 2026;14(6):31 World J Clin Cases. 2025 01-Nov:. 10.12998/wjcc.v13.i32.109464What this means for my practice?
Digitally assisted rehabilitation following rotator cuff repair provides comparable functional and range of motion outcomes to conventional rehabilitation and may improve accessibility and patient engagement. Clinically, digital rehabilitation may serve as an effective alternative or addition to traditional therapy, particularly when access to in-person therapy is limited. Key limitations include a small sample size, high heterogeneity, and variability in digital platforms used across studies.
Study Summary
Three RCTs including 195 patients undergoing rotator cuff repair were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis comparing digitally assisted rehabilitation vs. conventional home-based rehabilitation. Pooled outcomes of interest included Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, flexion range of motion (ROM), external rotation ROM, and abduction ROM. The meta-analysis demonstrated no significant differences in DASH score, flexion ROM, or external rotation ROM, but showed a significant improvement in abduction ROM favouring digitally assisted rehabilitation. Overall, digital rehabilitation demonstrated comparable clinical effectiveness to traditional rehabilitation, suggesting it may be a viable alternative for postoperative recovery after rotator cuff repair.
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