Factors Associated With Tear Propagation and Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Personalized Exercise Therapy for...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Rotator cuff tears often require exercise therapy, but treatment fails in up to 50% of patients.
• Identifying baseline factors influencing outcomes is crucial for improving treatment strategies.
• Understanding predictors of tear propagation and patient outcomes can enhance clinical decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively identify factors predicting rotator cuff tear propagation.
• To determine predictors of patient-reported outcomes after exercise therapy.
• To analyze outcomes in individuals with symptomatic isolated supraspinatus tears undergoing a 12-week program.

Main Methods:

• A prospective longitudinal study included 109 individuals with rotator cuff tears.
• Baseline assessments included range of motion, isometric strength, and arthrokinematics.
• Tear size (ultrasound) and Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) scores were measured before and after a 12-week exercise program.

Main Results:

• Only 8.5% of participants experienced rotator cuff tear propagation.
• Baseline tear size was the sole predictor of tear propagation (OR 0.71, P=.04).
• Greater baseline internal rotation strength correlated with higher WORC scores (P=.044).

Conclusions:

• Rotator cuff tear propagation post-exercise therapy was infrequent.
• Baseline tear size and internal rotation strength are key factors influencing outcomes.
• These findings aid in personalizing exercise therapy for rotator cuff tears.