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RecruitingNCT06246305Updated Feb 7, 2024

Effect of Virtual Reality on Upper Extremity Function Post-operative Rotator Cuff Repair

An interventional study of conventional physical therapy training and Virtual Reality (VR) training in Rotator Cuff Impingement Syndrome, Rotator Cuff Tears and Rotator Cuff Injuries, sponsored by Cairo University. Recruiting at 1 site in Egypt. Open to participants aged 19 Years to 70 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-02-07.

Sponsored by Cairo University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was expected by May 2024, 2 years 5 months ago, but the record still lists the study as recruiting.
  • Started Jan 2024; still recruiting 2 years 8 months later.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
60
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
19 Years to 70 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The aim of the study is to investigate the effect and the impact of performing virtual reality intervention on upper extremity function in patients with post-operative rotator cuff repair. The main question that it aims to answer is:

Does the application of virtual reality intervention improves upper extremity function in patients with post-operative rotator cuff repair.

Participants will be randomized into 2 groups: the control group receiving conventional physical therapy intervention and the experimental group receiving the virtual reality intervention.

Read the detailed description

Rotator cuff tears are one of the most common disorders of the shoulder that result in shoulder pain and dysfunction. It affects about 30% of individuals that are older than 60 years. The conservative management is the first-line treatment for a rotator cuff tear, but a surgical rotator cuff repair (RCR) is required if the conservative management failed. Post-operative rehabilitation requires up to 12 weeks. But, Virtual Reality (VR) intervention is emerging as a viable alternative for musculoskeletal rehabilitation of the upper limb. Unlike in neuro-rehabilitation, VR is still poorly used in orthopedic rehabilitation. Thus, the investigators hypothesize that performing virtual reality intervention will improve the upper extremity function in patients with post-operative rotator cuff repair.

02

Conditions studied

  • Rotator Cuff Impingement Syndrome
  • Rotator Cuff Tears
  • Rotator Cuff Injuries

Keywords

  • rotator cuff repair
  • post-operative
  • upper extremity
  • function
03

In context

Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

304 studies on the registry are indexed under Shoulder Impingement Syndrome; 55 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 60 is above the median of 54 across 261 interventional studies indexed under Shoulder Impingement Syndrome.

Browse Shoulder Impingement Syndrome studies →

Lead sponsor

Cairo University is the lead sponsor of 4,780 studies on the registry; 1,427 are open to participants now.

Of its 36 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 5 (14%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
19 Years to 70 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  1. Older than 18 years old and younger than 70 years old, and referred by the Adult Orthopedic Department with arthroscopic RC repair of a non-retracted isolated full-thickness supraspinatus tear with maximum 5 days post operation.
  2. Poor response to initial non-operative treatment.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Large-sized RC tears (3-5 cm),
  2. Massive or irreparable RC tears,
  3. Anteroinferior labral (Bankart) or superior labrum anterior to posterior lesions,
  4. Severe glenohumeral osteoarthritis,
  5. Adhesive capsulitis, or
  6. Previous surgery on the affected shoulder
  7. Re-tears of the RC.
  8. Indication for revision RCR
  9. Severe neurological deficits
  10. Infection in the affected shoulder
  11. Blindness and/or illiteracy
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
60 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Conventional physical therapy

    The conventional therapy rehabilitation program is divided into three phases: on-brace, off-brace, and active mobilization. The on-brace phase (post-op 0-6 weeks) mainly consists of low-intensity whole-body exercises with shoulder girdle, elbow, and hand mobilization exercises on the affected side. In this phase, exercises are done of three sets with 10 repetitions per day. The off-brace phase (post-op 6-9 weeks) consists of passive shoulder ROM exercises using an exercise stick and an early scapular stabilization exercise. The active mobilization phase (post-op 9-12 weeks) consists of both active and passive shoulder ROM , strengthening exercise with progressive resistance using TheraBand, and scapular stabilization exercises. During the off-brace and active mobilization phases, exercises are done of 3-5 sets of exercises with 10 repetitions per day.

    Other: conventional physical therapy training

  • Experimental
    Virtual reality (VR)

    During the on-brace phase(0-6 weeks), participants in this group will use the program as performed in the control group. During the off-brace (6-9 weeks post-op) and active mobilization phases (9-12 weeks post-op), participants will use the Virtual Reality machine. This program includes warming and cooling periods with posterior, anterior and inferior capsule stretching and pectoral muscle stretching. Exercise training includes bilateral shoulder elevation, boxing, bowling and tennis games accompanied by avatar. Resistance training is progressed in the active mobilization phase using TheraBand.

    Device: Virtual Reality (VR) training

Interventions

  • Otherconventional physical therapy training

    conventional therapy rehabilitation program is divided into three phases: on-brace, off-brace, and active mobilization. The on-brace phase (post-op 0-6 weeks) mainly consists of low-intensity whole-body exercises with shoulder girdle, elbow, and hand mobilization exercises on the affected side. The off-brace phase (post-op 6-9 weeks) consists of passive shoulder ROM exercises using an exercise stick and an early scapular stabilization exercise. The active mobilization phase (post-op 9-12 weeks) consists of both active and passive shoulder ROM , strengthening exercise with progressive resistance, and scapular stabilization exercises. The intervention is done 3 times per week for 12 weeks.

  • DeviceVirtual Reality (VR) training

    During the on-brace phase (0-6 weeks), participants in this group will use the program as performed in the control group. During the off-brace (6-9 weeks post-op) and active mobilization phases (9-12 weeks post-op), participants will use the Virtual Reality machine. this program involves warming up and down stretching exercises and exercise training that includes bilateral shoulder elevation, boxing, bowling and tennis games accompanied by avatar. The intervention is done 3 times per week for 12 weeks.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Shoulder function with disabilities of arm, shoulder and hand

    in numbers, it ranges from 0 to 100 with 0 being the lowest and 100 the highest. The higher the score means the better outcome

    Time frame: Measured at baseline, after 6 weeks, and after 12 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. The Numerical Pain Intensity Rating Scale

    in numbers, it ranges from 0 to 10 with 0 being the lowest and 10 being the highest. The higher the score means the better outcome

    Time frame: Measured at baseline, after 6 weeks, and after 12 weeks

  2. Active and passive range of motion using goniometer

    in degrees

    Time frame: Measured at baseline, after 6 weeks, and after 12 weeks

  3. Isometric muscle test by Handheld Dynamometer

    in numbers, it ranges from 0 to 5 with 0 being the lowest and 5 the highest. The higher the score means the better outcome

    Time frame: Measured at baseline, after 6 weeks, and after 12 weeks

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • Ahmed ElMelhat [aelmelhat]
    Cairo, Egypt
    Recruiting
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Gutierrez-Espinoza H, Araya-Quintanilla F, Pinto-Concha S, Zavala-Gonzalez J, Gana-Hervias G, Cavero-Redondo I, Alvarez-Bueno C. Effectiveness of supervised early exercise program in patients with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: Study protocol clinical trial. Medicine (Baltimore). 2020 Jan;99(4):e18846. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000018846. PubMed 31977882 ↗
  • Correia FD, Molinos M, Luis S, Carvalho D, Carvalho C, Costa P, Seabra R, Francisco G, Bento V, Lains J. Digitally Assisted Versus Conventional Home-Based Rehabilitation After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2022 Mar 1;101(3):237-249. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000001780. PubMed 33935152 ↗
09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Feb 7, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06246305
Lead sponsor
Cairo University
Responsible party
Ahmed ElMelhat (Principal investigator, Cairo University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Feb 7, 2024
Start date
Jan 28, 2024
Primary completion
May 2024 (estimated)
Completion
Jul 2024 (estimated)
Last update
Feb 7, 2024

Study contacts

Ahmed El Melhat, PhD
Contact
ahmed.elmelhat@cu.edu.eg
01112595022
Aseel El kawam, DPT
Contact
aseelkawam@gmail.com
70656958
Ahmed El Melhat, PhD
study director · Cairo University

Oversight

FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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