Efficacy of Adding Early Scapular Muscles Strengthening Exercise After Rotator Cuff Repair on Scapula Kinematics

Early Strengthening of Lower Trapezius and Serratus Anterior Muscles in an Accelerated Rehabilitation Program After Rotator Cuff Repair

The study investigates the effect of accelerate rehabilitation protocol(adding scapular strengthen exercises (lower trapezius and serratus anterior) from week 1) after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair on scapular upward rotation during shoulder elevation.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Rotator Cuff Injuries; Supraspinatus Tear; Rotator Cuff Repair Rehabilition
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Rehabilition protocol after rotator cuff repair surgery

Detailed Description

The study will consist of two groups, each participating in an accelerated rehabilitation program that will start in the first week after surgery and continue until week 12. However, the groups will follow different protocols.

The first group will follow an accelerated rehabilitation protocol with early strengthening of the scapular stabilizer muscles, specifically the lower trapezius (LT) and serratus anterior (SA). This group will begin gradual active range of motion (ROM) for the glenohumeral (GH) joint from week 4 post-operative until week 12, as well as scapular muscle strengthening exercises starting from the first week.

The second group will follow a protocol with delayed strengthening of the scapular stabilizer muscles. In this group, active ROM for the GH joint and scapular activation exercises (including protraction, retraction, and depression) will begin from week 6 and continue until week 12.

Patients will be required to wear a sling for the first 6 weeks or as recommended by the physician, removing it only during therapy sessions and home exercises.

Outcomes will be measured at three points: at week 3 for baseline assessment, and then reassessed at weeks 6 and 12.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Egypt
  • Alexandria, Egypt, 03
    • wengat hospital (El Raml Children hospital)
  • Alexandria, Egypt
    • wengat hospital (El Raml Children hospital)

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.
2. Both gender between age 30 to 50 years
3. Small and medium supraspinatus tear

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Early strengthening of Scapular stabilizer muscle and GH Active range of motion; Act as study group will receive accelerated protocol with early strengthening of scapular stabilizer muscle of lower trapezius, and serratus anterior and early active GH range of motion (AESA) rehabilitation program.	Other: Rehabilition protocol after rotator cuff repair surgery; adding early scapular strengthening (lower trapezius and serratus anterior) exercise in Rehabilition program after rotator cuff repair surgery
Active Comparator: Delay strengthening of Scapular stabilizer muscles and GH Active range of motion; Act as control group will receive Accelerated protocol with delay strengthening of scapular stabilizer muscles and GH active range of motion (ADSA) rehabilitation program	Other: Rehabilition protocol after rotator cuff repair surgery; adding early scapular strengthening (lower trapezius and serratus anterior) exercise in Rehabilition program after rotator cuff repair surgery

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Upward rotation of the scapula	Measuring the degree of upward rotation of the scapula during shoulder elevation using baseline bubble inclinometer	At week 3 and week 9 and week 12 after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
glenohumeral shoulder elevation	Measuring the degree of glenohumeral shoulder flexion, abduction, internal rotion and external rotation using a baseline bubble inclinometer	At week 3 and week 9 and week 12 after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair
scapular muscles strength	measuring the muscle strength for the serratus anterior, lower trapezius, and upper trapezius using the Active Force 2 device dynamometer	At week 3, week 9 and week 12 after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Cairo University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 1, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): May 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 17, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 26, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): February 28, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 20, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 18, 2026
• Last Verified: September 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Rotator cuff repair Rehabilition, scapular upward rotation, scapular strengthen exercise; accelerate rehabilitation protocol
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Shoulder Injuries; Wounds and Injuries; Rupture; Tendon Injuries; Rotator Cuff Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: P.T.REC/012/005178

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No