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NCT Number: NCT05315440

The Effectiveness of Graston Tecnique Compared to Traditional Physiotherapy to Improve Range of Motion After Arthroscopic Cuff Repair.

In shoulder rehabilitation after arthroscopic cuff repair, one of first objectives coincides with improving the range of passive movement: this process often requires considerable time of both patients and physiotherapists. This study aims to verify whether it is useful to add instruments assisted soft-tissue mobilization according to Graston Tecnique to the classic rehabilitation protocol in order to accelerate recovery times of passive range of motion.

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Key information

Conditions

Cuff Tear Arthropathy Arthritis Chondrocalcinosis Crystal Arthropathies Joint Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Rotator Cuff Tear Arthropathy

Age range

40 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli

Bologna, BO, 40136, Italy

About this study

There is conflicting evidence about early versus delayed postoperative rehabilitation after arthroscopic cuff repair: early protocol seems to reduce the risk of stiffness but could increase the risk of rupture of the tendon in long time, especially for large tears; delayed protocol impose a period of shoulder immobilization (from 2 weeks to 40-day) that can promote tendons healing but could determine shoulder stiffness. Our research question is if after the delayed protocol used in our institute (40 -day immobilization period) it migh be useful to add soft-tissue mobilization assisted by instruments according to Graston Tecnique to the classic rehabilitation protocol of the shoulder in order to speed up recovery times of the passive movement range.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • arthroscopic rotator cuff repair
  • partial lesion due to tendon degeneration (1 or 2 anchors reparation)

Exclusion criteria

  • traumatic tendon lesions
  • associated conditions as arthritis, loss of superficial sensitivity, loss of muscle tone, mental impairment, oncological conditions
  • shoulder stiffness before surgery due to calcific tendonitis, adhesive capsulitis

Treatment and study plan

graston tecnique

Other

Graston technique involves the use of steel tools that are used non-invasively on the skin to identify and treat areas that have stiffness or inflammation. These areas can be located with greater precision than the manual technique precisely because the instruments do not compress in contact with the patient's skin, as is the case with the physiotherapist's fingertips. Thanks to the instruments it is therefore possible to detect the areas of altered consistency and to treat them by pressing a minimum pressure.

Other names: instrument soft tissue mobilization

conventional rehabilitation

Other

30 minutes of passive and active assisted mobilization guided by the therapist, 30 min of Continous passive movement in flexion and abduction and 30 minutes of electrostimulation.

Primary outcomes

  1. Passive Range of Motion Recovery of the Shoulder

    Time frame: after 2 weeks of treatment

    Passive Range of Motion Recovery of the Shoulder in elevation and abduction measured by digital inclinometer

Secondary outcomes

  1. Reduction of pain measured by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)

    Time frame: after 2 weeks of treatment

    The visual analog scale (VAS) is a validated, subjective measure for acute and chronic pain. Scores are recorded by making a handwritten mark on a 10-cm line that represents a continuum between 0 ("no pain") and 10 ("worst pain").

  2. Shoulder function improvement measured by Constant Murley and Dash scales

    Time frame: after 2 weeks of treatment

    The Constant-Murley score is a 100-points scale composed of a number of individual parameters that define the level of pain and the ability to carry out the normal daily activities of the patient. The test is divided into 4 subscales: pain (15 points), activities of daily living (20 points), strength (25 points) and range of motion (40 points). The higher the score, the higher the quality of the function. Since the test is carried out in an acute post-surgery phase, it is not possible to carry out the evaluation of strength, which is assigned a score of zero for all patients. The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire is a 30-item questionnaire that looks at the ability of a patient to perform certain upper extremity activities. This questionnaire is a self-report questionnaire that patients can rate difficulty and interference with daily life on a 5 point Likert scale.The score ranges from 0 (no disability) to 100 (most severe disability).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effectiveness of Graston Tecnique Compared to Traditional Physiotherapy to Improve Shoulder Range of Motion After Arthroscopic Cuff Repair.

Acronym: GRA-RCR

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Apr 7, 2022
Registry last updated
Jul 18, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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