The RaCeR study: Rehabilitation following Rotator Cuff Repair
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Rehabilitation following rotator Cuff repaiR: a multi-centre pilot & feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial with nested qualitative study (the RaCeR study).
IRAS ID
232678
Contact name
Clark Crawford
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 2 months, 30 days
Research summary
Disorders of the muscles and tendons of the shoulder, the rotator cuff (RC), are the most common cause of shoulder pain. Injury to the RC, e.g. a tear, can result in significant pain and disability. The number of operations to repair the torn RC has increased significantly over recent years. Surgical techniques have advanced over time but the rehabilitation after surgery has not. This is problematic because rehabilitation is key to good outcomes. We do not know when rehabilitation after surgery should begin. Currently most patients are advised to rest their arm in a sling for four to six weeks after the operation. But, evidence suggests that starting rehabilitation early (as soon as possible after surgery) might help people return to their usual activities more quickly, which is important to patients.\n\nRaCeR is a pilot and feasibility randomised controlled trial aiming to assess the feasibility of conducting a larger, main trial. 76 patients will be recruited from up to five NHS hospital sites in England. Patients will receive one of two rehabilitation programmes; early patient-directed mobilisation (movement), using pain as a guide, or immobilisation of the arm in a sling for four weeks. After four weeks both groups of patients will undertake further rehabilitation led by a physiotherapist as per standard practice. The key difference is that those in the early mobilisation group begin moving their shoulder more quickly after the operation. Patients will report their levels of pain and disability after surgery via questionnaires and responding to text messages to rate recovery. A shoulder ultrasound scan at 12 weeks will check how the RC is healing.\n\nA sub-sample of patient participants (up to 20) and clinician participants (up to 10) will also be invited for interview to discuss their experiences of the study and the treatments.
REC name
Wales REC 5
REC reference
18/WA/0242
Date of REC Opinion
31 Jul 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion