Rehabilitation Following Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Key facts
- Where
- Bloomington, United StatesSee the site
Where in United States
- TRIA Orthopaedic CenterBloomington, United StatesContact: Megan ReamsTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- HealthPartners Institute
- Trial code
- NCT03804853
- Record updated
- 26 June 2026
- Original description
Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) has been successful in patients with rotator cuff arthropathy, proximal humerus fractures, failed primary total shoulder arthroplasty or failed hemiarthroplasty, and massive irreparable rotator cuff tear. Patients who undergo an RTSA report pain relief and functional range of motion. It has been more than 20 years since the advent of the RTSA construct but an immediate post-operative rehabilitation with active shoulder range of motion has not been prospectively studied in comparison to the traditional post-operative rehabilitation highlighted by Boudreau et al.12 Investigators plan to prospectively follow our patients following RTSA undergoing an immediate active shoulder rehabilitation (IASR) vs traditional rehabilitation in a randomized controlled fashion. Investigators plan to document clinical outcomes, complications and cost effectiveness out to 1 year.Read full original descriptionShow less
Immediate Accelerated Shoulder Rehabilitation Versus a Standard Protocol Following Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) has been successful in patients with rotator cuff arthropathy, proximal humerus fractures, failed primary total shoulder arthroplasty or failed hemiarthroplasty, and massive irreparable rotator cuff tear. Patients who undergo an RTSA report pain relief and functional range of motion. It has been more than 20 years since the advent of the RTSA construct but an immediate post-operative rehabilitation with active shoulder range of motion has not been prospectively studied in comparison to the traditional post-operative rehabilitation highlighted by Boudreau et al.12 Investigators plan to prospectively follow our patients following RTSA undergoing an immediate active shoulder rehabilitation (IASR) vs traditional rehabilitation in a randomized controlled fashion. Investigators plan to document clinical outcomes, complications and cost effectiveness out to 1 year.
The study will hopefully fulfill the Triple Aim model for HealthPartners by improving the health of the population, improve the experience of each individual, and make healthcare affordable by decreasing the total cost of care.
Inclusion: > 55 years of age; Candidate for a primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty; Capable of completing self-administered questionnaires; Be willing and able to return for all study-related follow-up procedures; Able and willing to give informed consent; Proficient in the English language.
Exclusion: Previous shoulder surgery including previous total shoulder arthroplasty or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty or hemiarthroplasty, or instability repairs; Any concomitant shoulder procedure; Additional ipsilateral or contralateral upper limb pathology that requires active treatment (i.e. surgery or brace); Subject is on chronic anticoagulation due to a bleeding disorder or has taken anticoagulants within 10 days prior to surgery; Current drug or alcohol abuse; Active bacterial infection of the shoulder; Peripheral vascular disease or other vascular disorders that would impair healing; Peripheral neuropathy or other neurological disorders that may impair the patient to ambulate; Any condition requiring chemotherapy; Major medical illness (life expectancy less then 2 years or unacceptably high operative risk); Deltoid insufficiency on physical examination; Intra-operative:; Complications from Primary Reverse Shoulder Total Arthroplasty (i.e. post-operative infection, bleeding, hardware failure); Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus with an HbA1C > 7.5%; In-Clinic:; Patients planning on undergoing a Primary Reverse Shoulder Total Arthroplasty due to proximal humeral fracture; Inflammatory arthropathy; Diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis; Diagnosed with gout; Patient is on workers compensation; Active tobacco user or former tobacco user who is not free of using tobacco for 8 weeks; Suspicion of cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy; Iatrogenic glenoid fracture; Post-operative:; Neurological injury of the upper extremity.