Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41142763›Full record

ReviewJSES reviews, reports, and techniques2026

Digital and virtual reality-based rehabilitation versus conventional therapy for rotator cuff tears and post-repair recovery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abdullah M AlHossan, Rana H Jahhaf, Abdulrazzag S Alharbi, Leena M Alqahtani, Renad M Alshahrani, Leen T Alowaidah, Hind Y Alshangiti, Ryan M Degen

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in JSES reviews, reports, and techniques, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Abdullah M AlHossanCollege of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Rana H JahhafCollege of Medicine, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Abdulrazzag S AlharbiCollege of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Leena M AlqahtaniCollege of Medicine, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Renad M AlshahraniCollege of Medicine, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Leen T AlowaidahCollege of Medicine, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Hind Y AlshangitiCollege of Medicine, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ryan M DegenDepartment of Surgery, Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic, Bone and Joint Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: To evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality-based rehabilitation compared to conventional rehabilitation methods in improving shoulder functions, range of motion (ROM), strength, and pain relief in patients recovering from rotator cuff repair. To assess the impact of virtual reality-based rehabilitation on rehabilitation adherence and patient satisfaction in postoperative rotator cuff repair recovery. Methods: A systematic literature search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Dimensions AI, and Google Scholar was performed from inception to February 14, 2025. Studies involving patients who underwent rotator cuff repair and comparing virtual reality (VR)-based rehabilitation with standard physical therapy were included. Data were extracted and synthesized. Meta-analysis was conducted for outcomes reported by multiple studies, and risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool. Results: Of 599 screened records, 6 studies (n ≈ 332 patients) met the inclusion criteria. There was no statistically significant difference between VR-based and conventional rehabilitation in reducing perceived pain and improving patient-reported functional outcomes. Importantly, VR-based therapy led to significantly greater improvement in shoulder abduction ROM than conventional rehabilitation. However, gains in shoulder flexion and external rotation were not significantly different between groups. Patient adherence and satisfaction varied with rehabilitation modality: home-based digital programs tended to improve adherence, while satisfaction depended on individual preferences for supervision. Conclusion: VR-based rehabilitation is a feasible alternative or adjunct to traditional physiotherapy after rotator cuff repair. It yields postoperative outcomes (pain relief, functional improvement, and strength recovery) comparable to standard rehabilitation, with a clear advantage in enhancing shoulder abduction ROM. Digital rehabilitation may improve patient compliance through greater engagement and accessibility, although integration of periodic clinician interaction may be necessary to maximize patient satisfaction. These findings support incorporating digital health technology into postoperative shoulder rehab protocols, tailored to individual patient needs.

Indexed as

Patient adherenceRange of motionRehabilitationRotator cuff repairShoulder functionVirtual reality

Identifiers

PMID41142763
PMCPMC12553048

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

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.