Patients Experiences of Rehabilitation Before and After Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty

Patients Experiences of Rehabilitation After Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty - a Qualitative Interview Study

Reverse shoulder arthroplasty is a complex surgical procedure requiring thorough rehabilitation, and its frequency is increasing globally. While previous studies have quantitatively examined postoperative outcomes, such as pain levels and shoulder function, no research has yet explored patients' subjective experiences of the rehabilitation process before and after surgery. Purpose of the study was to explore patients' experiences of undergoing reverse shoulder arthroplasty and the associated rehabilitation process.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder

Detailed Description

Surgery with total shoulder arthroplasty is a procedure that has increased in number in the last twenty years, and it is the third most common prosthetic surgery in the world after hip and knee. There are two types of shoulder arthroplasty, anatomical and reverse. When the rotator cuff is severely impaired or completely dysfunctional, a reverse shoulder prosthesis is used, in which the anatomical positions of the ball and socket are reversed.

There are thus several factors that the treating physiotherapist needs to take into account. Research on reverse shoulder arthroplasty has primarily focused on evaluations using quantitative measures. Qualitative research from the patient's perspective can provide a deeper understanding of their expectations and experiences, offering insights that complement and fill the gaps left by quantitative research. Gaining insight into patients' experiences would be valuable for physiotherapists working with this group, as it may help identify areas for improvement in care to better meet patients' needs.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 15

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Sweden
  • Västra Götaland
    • Alingsås, Västra Götaland, Sweden, 441 60
      • Research, Education, Development & Innovation, Primary Health Care, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients who had undergone surgery with a reverse shoulder prosthesis during the period from September to November 2021. Based on background variables from the surgery lists, a strategic selection of participants was made to achieve variation in terms of gender, age, and geographic area.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

The inclusion criteria encompassed patients who had undergone elective surgery involving reverse shoulder arthroplasty in the Västra Götaland region who demonstrated proficiency in both spoken and written Swedish.

Exclusion Criteria:

Exclusion criteria applied to cases where the study leader had served as the patient's physiotherapist, the presence of neurological disorders, or the occurrence of surgical complications, such as infection or fracture.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Women and men, who had undergone surgery with reverse shoulder arthroplasty.; The participants were recruited from three different hospitals in Western Sweden: a local hospital, a county hospital, and a university hospital. The inclusion criteria encompassed patients who had undergone elective surgery involving reverse shoulder arthroplasty in the Västra Götaland region who demonstrated proficiency in both spoken and written Swedish.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Patients' experiences of undergoing surgery and rehabilitation with reverse shoulder arthroplasty.	Qualitative semi structured individual in-depth interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Fifteen persons, women and men, who had undergone surgery with reverse shoulder arthroplasty between six to twelve months previously, were recruited to the study.	From time of surgery to end of rehabilitation, approximately 0-7,8 months.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Vastra Gotaland Region
• Investigators: Study Chair: Anette Larsson, RPT, PhD, Research, Education, Development & Innovation, Primary Health Care, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 21, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 23, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): October 23, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 19, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 19, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 26, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 13, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 9, 2025
• Last Verified: March 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Reverse shoulder arthroplasty, qualitative research, physiotherapy, experiences
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases; Arthritis; Joint Diseases; Rheumatic Diseases; Osteoarthritis
• Other Study ID Numbers: VGFOUSA-1020701

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No