Rotator cuff tears are common, affecting 50% or more of the population over age 60. This condition in painful and often results in long-term shoulder disability even after surgical repair. Treatment typically begins with 6-12 weeks of physical therapy (PT). If PT fails to improve pain or strength, then the torn rotator cuff is often repaired surgically. Some evidence suggests that performing surgery earlier in the patient's course of treatment may result in a better outcome, but the decision to forego PT in favor of surgery is not easy since the relative effectiveness of PT and surgical repair is not known. Furthermore, it is also not known why PT is effective for some patients while other patients require surgical repair. Our long-term goal is to optimize the treatment of rotator cuff tears. The objective of this study is to quantify the effectiveness of PT and surgical repair in treating smal rotator cuff tears. Our central hypothesis is that improvements in clinical outcomes (pain, strength) after PT or surgery are significantly associated with shoulder motion. Specifically, we hypothesize that decreased pain is associated with decreased impingement, and that improved strength is associated with the extent to which glenohumeral joint (GHJ) and scapulothoracic motions are restored to normal. To better understand the treatment of rotator cuff tears, our approach will be to longitudinally measure shoulder strength, GHJ motion, scapulothoracic motion, and pain in rotator cuff patients prior to beginning PT, after 8 weeks of PT, and up to one year after surgery. Guided by findings from the previous grant period, our central hypothesis will be tested by pursuing the following specific aims: 1) compared to age-matched control subjects with normal shoulder function, determine the extent to which rotator cuff pathology affects shoulder motion and strength, 2) in patients with small rotator cuff tears, determine the extent to which physical therapy affects the relationship between pain, strength, and shoulder motion, and 3) in patients for whom PT is not successful, determine the extent to which surgical repair affects the relationship between pain, strength, and shoulder motion. The proposed research is innovative because it will use a state-of-the-art motion measurement technique (biplane x-ray analysis) to provide a highly accurate assessment of the effects of physical therapy and surgical repair on in-vivo GHJ and scapulothoracic motion. Understanding the complex relationships between dynamic shoulder motion, strength, and pain - and how these relationships are affected by operative and non-operative interventions - will provide the framework to explain current clinical outcomes and lead to improved clinical interventions. This contribution will be significant because it will advance our understanding of the treatment of rotator cuff tears and will ultimately lead to improved patient care.

Public Health Relevance

Rotator cuff tears are common, painful, and debilitating, and their treatment is not particularly well understood. This project will assess the relative effectiveness of physical therapy and surgical repair for treating rotator cuff tears. The proposed research is relevant to public health because it will advance our understanding of the treatment of rotator cuff tears and will ultimately lead to improved patient care and lower medical costs.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AR051912-07
Application #
8740152
Study Section
Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Sciences Study Section (MRS)
Program Officer
Panagis, James S
Project Start
2005-01-01
Project End
2015-08-31
Budget Start
2014-09-01
Budget End
2015-08-31
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Henry Ford Health System
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Detroit
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48202
Baumer, Timothy G; Dischler, Jack; Mende, Veronica et al. (2017) Effects of asymptomatic rotator cuff pathology on in vivo shoulder motion and clinical outcomes. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 26:1064-1072
Baumer, Timothy G; Chan, Derek; Mende, Veronica et al. (2016) Effects of Rotator Cuff Pathology and Physical Therapy on In Vivo Shoulder Motion and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With a Symptomatic Full-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tear. Orthop J Sports Med 4:2325967116666506
Peltz, Cathryn D; Divine, George; Drake, Anne et al. (2015) Associations between in-vivo glenohumeral joint motion and morphology. J Biomech 48:3252-7
Peltz, Cathryn D; Haladik, Jeffrey A; Hoffman, Scott E et al. (2014) Associations among shoulder strength, glenohumeral joint motion, and clinical outcome after rotator cuff repair. Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ) 43:220-6
Bey, Michael J; Peltz, Cathryn D; Ciarelli, Kristin et al. (2011) In vivo shoulder function after surgical repair of a torn rotator cuff: glenohumeral joint mechanics, shoulder strength, clinical outcomes, and their interaction. Am J Sports Med 39:2117-29
Bey, Michael J; Kline, Stephanie K; Zauel, Roger et al. (2010) In Vivo Measurement of Glenohumeral Joint Contact Patterns. EURASIP J Adv Signal Process 2010:
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Bey, Michael J; Kline, Stephanie K; Zauel, Roger et al. (2008) Measuring dynamic in-vivo glenohumeral joint kinematics: technique and preliminary results. J Biomech 41:711-4
Bey, Michael J; Brock, Stephanie K; Beierwaltes, William N et al. (2007) In vivo measurement of subacromial space width during shoulder elevation: technique and preliminary results in patients following unilateral rotator cuff repair. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 22:767-73