Proposal and Evaluation of a Telerehabilitation Platform Designed for Patients With Partial Rotator Cuff Tears: A Preliminary Study.
OBJECTIVE
To propose and evaluate the effectiveness of a telerehabilitation platform designed for patients with rotator cuff (RC) tears.


METHODS
During the first study phase, a virtual service platform that included information on RC tear pathology, joint care, and a series of instructions regarding therapeutic exercise was designed and created. Subsequently, in the clinical phase, a quasi-experimental study was performed. The platform was tested on patients and evaluated at baseline and at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months with respect to their pain levels and functionality on the Constant-Murley (CM) scale.


RESULTS
Eleven patients were included, 5 women and 6 men, with a median age of 55 years (range, 42-68 years). Pain diminished from a baseline value of 64 mm (range, 40-80 mm) to 16 mm (range, 0-30 mm) at 6 months (p<0.001). Points on the CM scale rose from a baseline value of 54 points (range, 51-66 points) to 85 points (range, 70-100 points) at 6 months (p=0.001). Functionality in daily living and work activities, movement, and strength exhibited significant changes at 6 months (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Significant changes were observed in pain and functionality in this group of participants who used a telerehabilitation platform. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that included a specific program for RC tears.
Orthopedic Rehabilitation Division, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación, Mexico City, Mexico.
Salvador Israel
0000-0003-1469-6128
SI
Macías-Hernández
Orthopedic Rehabilitation Division, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación, Mexico City, Mexico.
Diana Sureima
0000-0001-5479-9290
DS
Vásquez-Sotelo
Department of Industrial Design, UAM-Azcapotzalco, Mexico City, Mexico.
Marco Vinicio
0000-0003-2415-586X
MV
Ferruzca-Navarro
Department of Industrial Design, UAM-Azcapotzalco, Mexico City, Mexico.
Susana Hazel
0000-0002-3658-244X
SH
Badillo Sánchez
Subdirection of Technology/Biomedical Engineering, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación, Mexico City, Mexico.
Josefina
0000-0002-2022-5835
J
Gutiérrez-Martínez
Subdirection of Technology/Biomedical Engineering, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación, Mexico City, Mexico.
Marco Antonio
0000-0002-8450-6003
MA
Núñez-Gaona
Subdirection of Technology/Biomedical Engineering, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación, Mexico City, Mexico.
Heriberto Aguirre
0000-0002-2655-1367
HA
Meneses
Physical Therapy Division, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación, Mexico City, Mexico.
Oscar Benjamín
0000-0002-1700-9488
OB
Velez-Gutiérrez
Physical Therapy Division, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación, Mexico City, Mexico.
Irene
0000-0001-9891-2005
I
Tapia-Ferrusco
Orthopedic Rehabilitation Division, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación, Mexico City, Mexico.
María de Los Ángeles
0000-0002-7842-4247
Mde L
Soria-Bastida
Orthopedic Rehabilitation Division, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación, Mexico City, Mexico.
Roberto
0000-0002-8268-9686
R
Coronado-Zarco
Orthopedic Rehabilitation Division, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación, Mexico City, Mexico.
Juan Daniel
0000-0002-3961-5243
JD
Morones-Alba
Rehabilitation; Remote consultation; Rotator cuff; Shoulder; Telemedicine