Effectiveness of video-based rehabilitation program on pain, functionality, and quality of life in the treatment of rotator cuff tears: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Video-based rehabilitation programs, which are also used in the treatment of neurological disorders, could be a beneficial treatment option for patients who cannot receive treatment.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of video-based rehabilitation program in the conservative treatment of partial rotator cuff tears in comparison to a physiotherapist-supervised rehabilitation program.

Study design: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Methods: Thirty-three voluntary patients with partial rotator cuff tear were randomized into two groups: video-based rehabilitation (VBR) group and physiotherapist-supervised rehabilitation (PSR) group, for a common 6 weeks rehabilitation program. After drop outs, thirty participants (mean ± SD age, 50.60 ± 8.54 years; 10 female) were finally completed the trial. Active shoulder range of motion, pain, functional status, and health-related quality of life of the patients were assessed before and after treatment. Also, treatment satisfaction level was assessed at the end of the treatment.

Results: There was statistically significant improvement in terms of active shoulder range of motion values (mean differences at 95% confidence interval for abduction: 30.75-51.37 in the VBR group, 34.20-54.45 in the PSR group, P = .001 in both groups) and secondary outcome measures within both groups (P < .05). However, there were no statistically significant differences in terms of all outcome measures between groups (P > .05). The level of satisfaction from treatment in the PSR group was higher than that in the VBR group.

Conclusion: A video-based rehabilitation program is an effective option in terms of shoulder range of motion, pain, functionality, and quality of life and has a comparable success level with a PSR program in the conservative treatment of partial rotator cuff tears.