Evaluation of the effectiveness of telerehabilitation in cases with rotator cuff tendinopathy

Year 2025, Volume: 38 Issue: 2, 150 - 157, 30.05.2025

Rojda Kaymaz , Ferruh Taspinar , Onur Engin , Betül Taşpınar

https://doi.org/10.5472/marumj.1708854

Abstract

Objective: Our study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of adding telerehabilitation (TR) to a home exercise program (HEP)
in patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy.
Patients and Methods: The study included 45 patients diagnosed with rotator cuff tendinopathy and randomly assigned into two
groups. The control group was given a HEP, while the study group received the same program supplemented with TR and following the
intervention, patients’ shoulder joint range of motion (ROM) was assessed with a goniometer, and functionality was evaluated using
the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC) and the Simple Shoulder Test (SST).
Results: In intra-group assessments, there was a significant decrease in the WORC physical symptoms subscale in the TR group at the
follow-up assessment (p<0.001), whereas no significant difference was found in the HEP group (p=0.189). Regarding the total SST
score, an increase was seen in the TR group post-treatment (p<0.001), while no difference was found in the HEP group (p=0.373).
Upon comparing TR and HEP, including increased active abduction of the right shoulder, as well as active flexion, abduction, and
external rotation of the left shoulder, the two groups groups showed that TR group patients had significantly better results than HEP
group patients in WORC and SST (p=0.007 and p=0.007 respectively).
Conclusion: The results of our study indicate that following a HEP with TR enhances shoulder mobility and functionality more
effectively than the HEP alone in patients with rotator cuff pathology.

Keywords

Shoulder , Rotator cuff , Tendinopathy , Telerehabilitation , Pain

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