Background: The primary goals of total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) are to relieve pain, improve range of motion, and restore function. Physical therapy is commonly used to help achieve these goals. Recent evidence has pointed to the success and safety of a purely physician-guided, home-based or internet-based, program versus the traditional therapist guided program. The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcomes of TSA in patients using a web-based, home therapy program.
Methods: A retrospective review was performed of TSA patients who were given the option of using a web-based, home therapy program. Functional outcomes were collected preoperatively, 6-month, and 12-month post-operative examinations. Physical examination parameters were recorded at preoperative, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month time-points.
Results: Forty-seven patients used the web-based, home therapy program and had complete follow-up data at all time intervals. All mean range of motion parameters and functional scores improved significantly from preoperatively to postoperatively. There was one reported complication in a patient who sustained a subscapularis rupture and underwent subsequent open repair at 10 months postoperatively.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates successful improvements in range of motion and functional outcomes in a subset of patients who utilized an online therapy program after TSA. Future study will be necessary to directly compare results in patients enrolled in formal, outpatient therapy programs and to determine barriers to utilization of web-based therapy programs.
Keywords: Home therapy; Patient guided therapy; Shoulder therapy safety; Total shoulder arthroplasty; Web-based therapy.