CClinicalTrials.gg
Enrolling by invitationNCT07820592PREHABUpdated Sep 15, 2026

Prehabilitation Before Surgery: A Strategy To Accelerate Recovery After Rotator Cuff Repair?

An interventional study of Prehabilitation in Rehabilitation, Rotator Cuff and Prehabilitation, sponsored by Laura Castillo Vejar. Enrolling by invitation at 1 site in Chile. Open to participants aged 50 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-15.

Sponsored by Laura Castillo Vejar · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
30
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
50 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

A rotator cuff tear is a structural injury to one or more tendons of the rotator cuff, ranging from degenerative changes to partial or complete tears. Rotator cuff tears are among the most common causes of shoulder pain and disability, particularly in middle-aged and older adults, and their prevalence increases with age. Population studies report a prevalence of complete tears around 20% to 22%, while in cohorts of individuals over 70 years of age, it can exceed 50%. The risk of tearing is associated with advanced age, dominant arm involvement, trauma, heavy labor, and male sex.

Read the detailed description

Physiological stress and adverse psychological factors can negatively interfere with postoperative recovery. To address this challenge, prehabilitation emerges as a comprehensive strategy that actively prepares patients before surgery, aiming to improve physical condition, optimize nutritional status, and implement cognitive interventions to reduce stress and anxiety. However, the application of prehabilitation in musculoskeletal injuries remains controversial. The main interventions in musculoskeletal injuries are based on strengthening exercises, balance and proprioceptive work, combined to a lesser extent with preoperative education and the use of neuromuscular electrical stimulation.

02

Conditions studied

  • Rehabilitation
  • Rotator Cuff
  • Prehabilitation

Browse trials for

Keywords

  • prehabilitation
  • rotator cuff repair
  • shoulder pain
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
50 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Men or women
  • Over 50 years of age
  • Awaiting arthroscopic surgery for rotator cuff repair of one or more tendons
  • Signed informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with a history of previous shoulder surgery ( in the contralateral shoulder)
  • Patients with a massive irreparable rotator cuff tears
  • Patientes with a history of infiltration in an injured shoulder
  • Uncontrolled or undiagnosed sleep disorders
  • The presence of mental or neurological illness, inability to read or follow instructions.
04

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
30 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Prehabilitation

    2 prehabilitation sessions before surgery + standard postoperative ohysiotherapy rehabilitation

    Other: Prehabilitation

  • No intervention
    Control group

    Received a standard ohysical therapy program alone, Following arthroscopic surgery, all participants were immobilized with a sling and abduction cushion for 3 weeks. Participants attended physical therapy 2 to 3 times per week, with each session consisting of 60 minutes of intervention. The same exercise protocol based on the consensus guidelines of The American Society of Shoulder and Elbow Therapists was followed.

Interventions

  • OtherPrehabilitation

    Two 60-minute prehabilitation sessions were conducted one week prior to surgery by kinesiologist specializing in musculoskeletal rehabilitation. The first session consisted of a power point presentation covering: (1) postoperative stages; (2) biopsychosocial factors influencing pain management; (3) the correct use of the sling and abduction cushion. The second session required participants to bring a companion for demostrations and practice of: (1) strategies for performing activities of daily living; (2) permitted movements and restrictions during the first postoperative weeks; (3) distal mobility exercises and (4) sleep hygiene strategies.

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC)

    It consists of 21 questions, addressing physical symptoms, sports and recreation, work and recreation, work, life studies and emotions. All dimensions were calculated and will be reported as a percentage. The WORC (Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index) has an absolute maximum score of 2100 points, representing the worst possible symptoms or the highest level of shoulder disability.

    Time frame: 4,8 and 12 week

Secondary outcomes

  1. Pain intensity

    The intensity of the pain is assessed considering a scale from 0 to 10. 0 being no pain and 10 being the maximum pain perceived.

    Time frame: 4,8 and 12 week

  2. Kinesiophobia (TSK-11)

    The tampa Kinesiophobia scale (TSK-11) will be used, being a valid, self-reported assessment instrument of 44 point. The maximum score is 44 points correlates with higher kinesiophobia

    Time frame: 4,8 and 12 week

  3. Catastrophizing (PCS)

    A 13-item self-administered questionnaire will be used, designed to measures a person is tendency to magnify, ruminate, or feel helpless in the face of pain. The maximum score on the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) is 52 points.

    Time frame: 4,8 and 12 week

  4. Disability (QUICKDASH)

    Evaluates disability and symptom severity for conditions affecting the arm, shoulder, and hand. 11 items rates on a 5-point likert scale (requiring at least 10 answered items to calculate). The maximum score on the QuickDASH questionnaire is 100 points, indicating the highest level of disability or functional limitation in the upper extremity.

    Time frame: 4,8 and 12 week

  5. Grip Strength

    A dynamometer will be used to quantify the grip strength of both arms.

    Time frame: 4,8 and 12 week

  6. Mobility (ROM)

    A goniometer is used to measure the degrees of arm movement

    Time frame: 4,8 and 12 week

  7. Sleep quality (PSQI)

    The Pittsburgh sleep quality index is a questionnaire that measures sleep quality and its disturbances in the last month. The maximum score on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is 21 points. Each component is rated on a scale of 0 to 3, where 0 means no difficulty and 3 represents a serious problem.

    Time frame: 4,8 and 12 week

06

Study locations

1 site
  • Temuco
    Temuco, Chile
07

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07820592
Lead sponsor
Laura Castillo Vejar
Responsible party
Laura Castillo Vejar (Msc, Clinica Redsalud) — Sponsor-investigator
First posted
Sep 15, 2026
Start date
Sep 3, 2026
Primary completion
Oct 30, 2026 (estimated)
Completion
Nov 10, 2026 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 15, 2026

Study contacts

Laura Castillo, Msc
principal investigator · Clinica Mayor RedSalud Temuco

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Interested in this study?

Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.

No contact was published for this record. The registry link below has the sponsor’s details.

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Start the discussion