Observational studyClinical journal of sport medicine : official journal of the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine2026
Clinically Important Improvements Observed in Patient-Reported Outcomes 2 Years After Exercise Therapy for Patients With Isolated Supraspinatus Tendon Tears.
Observational study in Clinical journal of sport medicine : official journal of the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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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.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Factors associated with progression of symptomatic isolated supraspinatus tears 2 years after exercise therapy.Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery · 2026Observational
- Factors Associated With Tear Propagation and Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Personalized Exercise Therapy for Individuals With Symptomatic Rotator Cuff Tears.Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveTo describe and predict patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and to investigate differences between individuals with a rotator cuff tear who were and were not successfully treated with a 12-week exercise therapy program.
designProspective observational cohort.
settingOrthopedic sports medicine clinical practice settings and departments of orthopedic surgery, physical therapy, and bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh.
participantsEighty-two individuals, age ≥40 years with a symptomatic isolated supraspinatus tear.
interventionsIndividualized 12-week exercise therapy program and longitudinal follow-ups at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months.
main outcome measures(1) PROs: Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) index (WORC) & Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), (2) shoulder range of motion (ROM) and strength, (3) rotator cuff tear size and location, (4) glenohumeral kinematics.
resultsSignificant improvements in both PROs were observed at all time points when compared with baseline. At the 24-month follow-up, improvement greater than the minimally clinically important difference was noted for 78% of individuals for the WORC and 55% for the NPRS. Baseline predictors for 24-month change in WORC and an overall successful outcome were identified and included the baseline WORC score and the side-to-side difference in ROM for external rotation at 90 degrees abduction.
conclusionsIndividuals with symptomatic, isolated supraspinatus tears, managed with exercise therapy, experienced clinically important improvements in self-reported disability and more than half experienced a similar improvement in pain, at a 2-year follow-up. Baseline patient-reported outcomes measures and side-to-side differences passive ROM predicted 24-month success after exercise therapy. These findings may be useful in plan-of-care decision making.
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