Investigation of the Active Joint Position Sense Following Rotator Cuff Repair Surgery

Abstract

Purpose: Decreased active joint position sense (JPS) has been documented in patients with rotator cuff tears. However, there is limited information regarding whether proprioceptive impairments could be recovered after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the shoulder active JPS following an ARCR surgery and compare the differences between the non-operated contralateral sides of the patients and the healthy controls. Methods: Fifteen patients with ARCR surgery and fifteen healthy controls were included. The shoulder active JPS was assessed using the Laser-pointer-assisted Angle Reproduction Test at 90° of the forward flexion and abduction positions at the post-operative 3rd month in patients with ARCR surgery (both sides) and healthy controls (dominant side). Shoulder active range of movements (ROM) and pain intensity were also recorded. Results: Active shoulder JPS was similar to the patients’ operated and non-operated sides and the dominant sides of the healthy controls at 90° of the forward flexion (p>0.05). However, it was significantly worse in the patients’ operated sides than in the non-operated sides at 90° of abduction (p=0.034). The ROMs were significantly worse in the ARCR patients' operated sides than in the non-operated sides and the healthy controls' dominant sides (p<0.05). Furthermore, pain intensity was not correlated with active JPS at 90° of forward flexion (r=-0.258; p=0.354) and 90° of abduction (r=-0.142; p=0.629). Conclusion: This study reveals that active JPS may be restored in the third month following ARCR surgery.

Keywords

• proprioception
• active joint position sense
• rotator cuff
• repair

Ethical Statement

This study protocol was approved by the Hacettepe University Institutional Review Board (GO16/575-14)

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