Robot Assisted Physical Therapy for Pseudoparalysis in Massive Rotator Cuff Tear

Rotator cuff tears are a common disorder in chronic shoulder pain. Common Complaints are pain, loss of range of motion and loss of strength. 20% of all tears are massive, in re-ruptures even 80%, with at least two tendons involved and this could lead to pseudoparalysis. The recommendation for the initial treatment is non-operative with physical therapy although people often receive a shoulder endoprosthesis. Robotic mediated therapy in patients with neurological disorders is already common, in rotator cuff tears it is less frequent and evidence is rare though. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of a robotic mediated therapy in a clinical setting, in terms of satisfaction, compliance and tolerance, and its potential benefit for patients with rotator cuff tear associated with pseudoparalysis.

Eighty patients with clinical signs of pseudoparalysis will be recruited in the Schulthess clinic in Zurich through doctors and physical therapists of the shoulder and elbow surgery department based on eligibility criteria. Eligible patient will be enclosed after signing the informed consent. The patients will attend a specific trainings program with the MJS Tecnobody (Multi Joint System 614P Tecnobody Srl, IT) three times a week over a period of six weeks. The training is guided by a specialised physical therapist and the trainings program is developed by physical therapists and doctors of the Schulthess clinic based on current literature. Feasibility assessment will be performed six and twelve weeks after baseline and secondary outcomes (Oxford shoulder score, subjective shoulder value, pain level during activity of daily living, active shoulder flexion and abduction and quality of life EQ-5D-5L) will be assessed at baseline, six and twelve weeks post intervention. Primary analysis will be descriptive and secondary analysis will be analyzed with a univariate paired non-parametric analysis. All statistical tests will be two-sided and the level of significance will be set at p < 0.05. We will follow a repeated measures analysis to investigate changes in the outcomes variables across time. This approach allows for the examination of within-subject differences, making it particularly useful in studying interventions or treatments where individuals serve as their own control.