A postoperative shoulder exercise program improves function and decreases pain following open thoracotomy: a...

Area of Science:

• Thoracic surgery
• Physiotherapy
• Postoperative recovery

Background:

• Open thoracotomy for pulmonary resection can lead to impaired shoulder function and pain.
• Standard care may not fully address the musculoskeletal impact of this surgical approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a structured postoperative physiotherapy exercise program on shoulder function, pain, range of motion, muscle strength, and quality of life.
• To determine if targeted shoulder exercises improve outcomes in patients undergoing elective pulmonary resection via open thoracotomy.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 76 patients undergoing open thoracotomy.
• Participants received either standard care or standard care plus a supervised, progressive physiotherapy exercise program.
• Outcomes including pain, shoulder function (Shoulder Pain and Disability Index), and quality of life (Short Form-36) were assessed preoperatively and up to 3 months postoperatively.

Main Results:

• The physiotherapy group experienced significantly less shoulder pain at discharge and improved shoulder function at 3 months compared to the control group.
• A trend towards better physical component scores on the Short Form-36 was observed in the exercise group.
• No significant differences were found in range of motion or muscle strength between the groups.

Conclusions:

• A physiotherapist-directed postoperative exercise program provides significant benefits for pain and shoulder function in patients recovering from open thoracotomy.
• This targeted physiotherapy approach enhances recovery beyond standard care for patients undergoing pulmonary resection.