1000 Section - Digital home Rehabilitation After Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: Early Feasibility Findings

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM PT

Presenting Author/Autor expositor(s)

JL

Ji Young Lim, PT, PhD

Professor
Sungkyunkwan University
Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea

Co-Author/Coautor(s)

SK

Seonghee Kim, OT

Researcher
Sungkyunkwan University
Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea
jY

jae Chul Yoo, MD

Professor
Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine
Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea

Corresponding Author/Autor a quien dirigir la corr(s)

Ji Hye Hwang, MD

Professor
Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine
Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea

Objectives : As societies age worldwide, reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) procedures continue to rise. Although adherence to postoperative rehabilitation is essential, limited access to structured rehabilitation can hinder recovery. Older adults may struggle with self-guided home rehab due to pain, restricted mobility, or comorbidities. The clinical usefulness of integrated app-based home rehabilitation with remote support has not yet been evaluated after RTSA.

Design: This non-randomized controlled trial has been recruiting adults aged ≥50 years undergoing RTSA. The intervention group performed a 12-week app-based home rehabilitation program following staged goals after discharge, with usual care. Assessments occurred preoperatively and at 12 and 20 weeks, including the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score at 12 weeks as the primary outcome and secondary outcomes of pain, ROM, functional measures, strength, quality of life, exercise self-efficacy, app usability (System Usability Scale and satisfaction), compliance, and adverse events. A propensity-score–matched retrospective cohort receiving brochure-based rehabilitation will serve as the comparator.

Results: Fifteen participants in their early 70s have been enrolled to date. Compliance varied widely (median 43%, range 0–86%), with forgetfulness and postoperative discomfort commonly reported as barriers. Usability and satisfaction were favorable (median SUS 72.5 [IQR 57–90]). Participants found the program helpful, easy to use, and were willing to recommend it. Most showed positive attitudes toward digital rehabilitation with good self-efficacy. In this early postoperative stage, functional recovery remained limited, but it improved pain with mild levels and confidence in performing exercises. No adverse events occurred. Higher engagement tended to correspond with better early outcomes.

Conclusion:

Although the study is ongoing, this model appears feasible, safe, acceptable, useful, and capable of improving pain and exercise self-efficacy despite variable engagement. Given the role of self-efficacy in sustaining rehabilitation, this approach may support more consistent engagement during recovery by helping patients mitigate age- and surgery-related barriers.