Salimi M, Keshtkar A, Mosalamiaghili S, Sharafatvaziri A, Feeley BT. Digitally assisted vs conventional home-based rehabilitation after rotator cuff repair: A meta-analysis. World J Clin Cases 2025; 13(32): 109464 [DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v13.i32.109464]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Brian T Feeley, MD, Full Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery, University of California San Francisco, 1500 Owens Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States. brian.feeley@ucsf.edu
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Orthopedics
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Meta-Analysis
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This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Nov 16, 2025 (publication date) through Nov 15, 2025
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World Journal of Clinical Cases
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2307-8960
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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Salimi M, Keshtkar A, Mosalamiaghili S, Sharafatvaziri A, Feeley BT. Digitally assisted vs conventional home-based rehabilitation after rotator cuff repair: A meta-analysis. World J Clin Cases 2025; 13(32): 109464 [DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v13.i32.109464]
World J Clin Cases. Nov 16, 2025; 13(32): 109464 Published online Nov 16, 2025. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v13.i32.109464
Digitally assisted vs conventional home-based rehabilitation after rotator cuff repair: A meta-analysis
Maryam Salimi, Alireza Keshtkar, Seyedarad Mosalamiaghili, Arash Sharafatvaziri, Brian T Feeley
Maryam Salimi, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX 77030, United States
Alireza Keshtkar, Research Center for Noncommunicable Diseases, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom 7414846199, Iran
Seyedarad Mosalamiaghili, Golestan Rheumatology Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan 4918936316, Golestān, Iran
Arash Sharafatvaziri, Center for Orthopedic Trans-Disciplinary Applied Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1914953616, Iran
Brian T Feeley, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States
Co-first authors: Maryam Salimi and Alireza Keshtkar.
Author contributions: Salimi M contributed to the design and implementation of the study and the writing of the manuscript; Keshtkar A contributed to the statistical analyses; Mosalamiaghili S contributed to drafting the manuscript; Feeley BT and Sharafatvaziri A contributed to the revision of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
PRISMA 2009 Checklist statement: The authors have read the PRISMA 2009 Checklist, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the PRISMA 2009 Checklist.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Brian T Feeley, MD, Full Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery, University of California San Francisco, 1500 Owens Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States. brian.feeley@ucsf.edu
Received: May 16, 2025 Revised: June 15, 2025 Accepted: October 24, 2025 Published online: November 16, 2025 Processing time: 184 Days and 7.9 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Rotator cuff tears are a chief cause of shoulder pain and disability, and surgical repair is often required when conservative management fails. As digital health technologies have expanded, especially since the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, digitally augmented rehabilitation programs emerged as a potential alternative to conventional physical therapy.
AIM
To determine if digitally assisted rehabilitation could be as practical, or even more effective, than the traditional methods most patients currently follow.
METHODS
Six electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, EMBASE, and Web of Science, were searched to find articles that compare digital-based rehabilitation and conventional treatment. Outcomes of interest were Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score and range of motion. The quality assessment of the included studies was performed using the risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials tool.
RESULTS
Three randomized controlled trial studies were enrolled in this study, including 195 cases. We did not find any significant differences between the two groups in terms of DASH score, flexion range of motion, and external rotation range of motion. There was a significant difference between the two groups for abduction range of motion.
CONCLUSION
Digital home-based rehab seems to be a strong alternative to traditional methods, offering similar results for people recovering from rotator cuff surgery. This approach might also make rehab more accessible and engaging for patients. That said, further research is needed to fully understand the potential of digital rehabilitation and ensure it works effectively for everyone.
Core Tip: This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of digitally assisted vs conventional home-based rehabilitation following rotator cuff repair. Findings from three randomized controlled trials suggest that digital rehabilitation offers comparable outcomes in Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand scores and range of motion—with a significant improvement in abduction—highlighting its potential as an accessible, patient-friendly alternative to traditional methods. While promising, broader implementation requires addressing barriers like digital literacy, access, and privacy concerns.
