The addition of aquatic therapy to rehabilitation following surgical rotator cuff repair: a feasibility study.
OBJECTIVE
Rotator cuff tears are frequently encountered in medical outpatient settings and often require surgical repair to achieve desirable functional outcomes. However, the optimal form of post-operative rehabilitation of rotator cuff repairs remains unidentified by the research literature. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of implementing and investigating the effect of a combined aquatic and land-based rehabilitation programme in the post-operative rehabilitation of rotator cuff tears.


METHODS
A cohort of 18 subjects undergoing rotator cuff repair were examined over a treatment period of 12 weeks. Twelve subjects participated in a combined aquatic and land-based programme, while six subjects received a standard land-based protocol. Passive range of motion and the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index outcomes were measured pre-operatively and at three, six and 12 weeks, post-operatively. Subjective responses on patient's assurance and confidence in the value of the exercises (questionnaire using an 11-point Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)) were collected at 12 weeks for both groups.


RESULTS
There was a significant improvement in both range of motion and Western Ontario Rotator Cuff scores in all subjects with treatment (p < 0.001). Furthermore, participation in aquatic therapy significantly improved passive flexion range of motion measures at three weeks (mean 46 degrees , 95% CI 17-75, p = 0.005) and six weeks (30 degrees , 95% CI 8-51, p = 0.01). There was no significant difference in the attendance rates (80% in both groups) or patients perceptions of the programmes (100% confidence and assurance in both groups).


CONCLUSIONS
The implementation of a combined aquatic and land-based physiotherapy programme following surgical repair of the rotator cuff is feasible and presents a potential viable alternative to conventional land-based exercise with comparable outcomes.
Discipline of Physiotherapy, School of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia. bernadette.brady@sswahs.nsw.gov.au
Bernadette
B
Brady
Julie
J
Redfern
Graeme
G
MacDougal
Jan
J
Williams
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006875:Hydrotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D016896:Treatment Outcome