EMG-Guided Coactivation Improves Recovery After Rotator Cuff Repair
Favorable Clinical Outcomes After Humeral Head Depressor Muscle Coactivation Training With EMG for Patients With Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Sports Health . 2025 Mar;17(2):312-321.Twenty-six patients with medium-sized degenerative supraspinatus tears status-post arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) were randomized to receive depressor muscle coactivation (DM-Co-A) training plus 14 weeks of guideline-based rehabilitation (n=13) or the same rehabilitation alone (n=13). The primary outcome of interest was pain (VAS at rest, during activity, Neer, and Hawkins-Kennedy positions) and active ROM (flexion, abduction, external/internal rotation). Secondary outcomes included DASH, Revised Oxford Shoulder Score (ROSS), Modified Constant-Murley Score (MCMS), and WORC. Outcomes were assessed across a 14-week program. Overall, the results revealed greater improvements with DM-Co-A in pain, flexion/abduction/external rotation ROM, and all functional scales; internal rotation ROM did not differ. These findings suggest adding EMG-guided DM-Co-A to standard rehab yields modest but clinically meaningful postoperative gains after ARCR.
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