PROTECT Study Comparing Home-Based Telerehabilitation Using a Smartphone App to Usual Physical Therapy Care After Shoulder Replacement Surgery in Older Adults

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the use of a smartphone app for home-based telerehabilitation compared to usual physical therapy care after primary shoulder arthroplasty in patients aged 60 years and older. The study aims to see if rehabilitation outcomes with the app are as good as with standard care, to compare outcomes between anatomical and reverse shoulder arthroplasty, and to assess the usability of the app. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. The app group will use a smartphone app delivering five daily exercises, daily questionnaires on exercise performance, pain, and activities, and receive information modules at specific times. The physical therapy group will have twice-weekly sessions with a physical therapist following hospital guidelines. Rehabilitation and assessments occur from surgery up to 3 months, with follow-up at 1 year. During the study, participants complete questionnaires at specific times between surgery and one year post-operation. Outcome measures include the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index SPADI assessed before surgery, at weeks 0, 3, 6, 12, and at 52 weeks, along with secondary measures like shoulder mobility, strength, daily living activities, exercise adherence, and quality of life. Exercise diaries and questionnaires track progress and adherence. The total study duration for participants extends to one year post-surgery.

Shoulder Prosthesis Telerehab Care Trial