SynthesisPloS one2021
Effectiveness of early versus delayed rehabilitation following rotator cuff repair: Systematic review and meta-analyses.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07324174 (A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effectiveness of Early Versus Conservative Rehabilitation Following Rotator Cuff Repair), which is not on this map. Cited by 25 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effectiveness of Early Versus Conservative Rehabilitation Following Rotator Cuff Repair
Who cites it
25 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 46 citations in OpenAlex.
- Patient-specific risk factors for repair failure and poor functional outcome after rotator cuff repair - an umbrella review.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2026Pooled it
- The effect of video-assisted training on upper extremity problems and functions after rotator cuff repair: a randomized controlled trial.Turkish journal of medical sciences · 2024Trial
- Early versus late physiotherapy following arthroscopic repair of small and medium size rotator cuff tear: a randomized clinical trial.International orthopaedics · 2023Trial
- Dual-Task Training Improves Shoulder Function and is Associated with Changes in Sensorimotor Network Connectivity After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Sports medicine - open · 2026Article
- Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (PENS) as an Adjunct to a Multimodal Physical Therapy Program for Postoperative Shoulder Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Low Incidence of Adverse Events of a Novel Self-Tensioning No. 2 Round Suture in Rotator Cuff Repair: An IDEAL Stage 2a Registry Cohort Analysis.Orthopaedic surgery · 2026Article
- Injectable Tranexamic Acid Use in Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Is Safe and Associated with Reduced Postoperative Opioid Use.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Effect of early physical therapy initiation and adherence on functional outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: a prospective observational cohort study.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
- Clinical Value of Scapular-Targeted Rehabilitation Within the Rotator Cuff Care Continuum: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Conservative and Postoperative Evidence.Orthopedic reviews · 2026Article
- Efficacy of arthroscopic deep rotator cuff suture with spinal needle for rotator cuff repair in treating rotator cuff tears.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2025Article
- Application and optimization of bioengineering strategies in facilitating tendon-bone healing.Biomedical engineering online · 2025Review
- Factors Influencing Rehabilitation Exercise Behavior in Elderly Rotator Cuff Repair Patients: A Qualitative Study Based on the Theory of Behavior Change Wheel.Patient preference and adherence · 2025Article
- Digital Health Technologies for Optimising Treatment and Rehabilitation Following Surgery: Device-Based Measurement of Sling Posture and Adherence.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Article
- Functional recovery of wrist surgery with regional versus general anesthesia: a prospective observational study.Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthesie · 2024Observational
- Use of a Spinal Needle Through the Deep Rotator Cuff Tissue to Treat Rotator Cuff Tears Under Direct Articular Vision.Arthroscopy techniques · 2024Article
- The Reverse Fragility Index: Interpreting the Evidence for Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Healing Associated With Early Versus Delayed Mobilization.HSS journal : the musculoskeletal journal of Hospital for Special Surgery · 2024Article
- Article
- Hydrotherapy after Rotator Cuff Repair Improves Short-Term Functional Results Compared with Land-Based Rehabilitation When the Immobilization Period Is Longer.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Article
- Patient Sex Is a Significant Factor in Arm Function Recovery After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair.Arthroscopy, sports medicine, and rehabilitation · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of early rehabilitation compared with delayed/standard rehabilitation after rotator cuff repair for pain, function, range of movement, strength, and repair integrity.
designSystematic review and meta-analyses.
methodsWe searched databases and included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing early with delayed/standard rehabilitation for patients undergoing rotator cuff repair surgery. We assessed risk of bias of the RCTs using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool.
resultsTwenty RCTs, with 1841 patients, were included. The majority of the RCTs were of high or unclear risk of overall bias. We found substantial variations in the rehabilitation programmes, time in the sling and timing of exercise progression. We found no statistically significant differences for pain and function at any follow-up except for the outcome measure Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation at six months (MD: 6.54; 95%CI: 2.24-10.84) in favour of early rehabilitation. We found statistically significant differences in favour of early rehabilitation for shoulder flexion at six weeks (MD: 7.36; 95%CI: 2.66-12.06), three (MD: 8.45; 95%CI: 3.43-13.47) and six months (MD: 3.57; 95%CI: 0.81-6.32) and one year (MD: 1.42; 95%CI: 0.21-2.64) and similar differences for other planes of movement. In terms of repair integrity, early mobilisation does not seem to increase the risk of re-tears (OR:1.05; 95%CI: 0.64-1.75). DISCUSSION: Current approaches to early mobilisation, based largely on early introduction of passive movement, did not demonstrate significant differences in most clinical outcomes, although we found statistically significant differences in favour of early rehabilitation for range of movement. Importantly, there were no differences in repair integrity between early and delayed/standard rehabilitation. Most rehabilitation programmes did not consider early active movement as soon as the patient feels able. With ongoing variation in rehabilitation protocols there remains a need for large high quality RCT to inform the optimal approach to rehabilitation after rotator cuff repair surgery.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.