Table 1 Characteristics of included studies
Author | Year | Country | Design | Number of patients | Population | Intervention | Rehabilitation protocol |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cho, C.H. | 2015 | South Korea | P | 80 | Patients with types of tear patterns and etiology that were not precisely described; Exclusion of patients with workers compensation claims, or requiring additional procedures (AC arthritis, biceps pathologies) | One surgeon involved, repair technique not precisely described | Post-operative immobilization not precisely described. Active range of motion started at 6 weeks after surgery. Strengthening exercises started after 3 months, and sport activities from 6 months |
Cho, N.S. | 2015 | South Korea | R | 335 | Patients with full-thickness supraspinatus tears, with fatty infiltration < 2, etiology not precisely described; Exclusion of patients with workers compensation claims, or requiring additional procedures (AC arthritis, biceps pathologies) | One surgeon involved, suture-bridge technique used | Post-operative immobilization not precisely described. Active range of motion started at 6 weeks after surgery. Strengthening exercises started after 6 weeks, and sport activities from 6 months |
Tan, M. | 2016 | Australia | R | 1300 | Patients with supraspinatus tears, and both degenerative or traumatic tears; No specific exclusion criteria | One surgeon involved, single-row repair technique used | Post-operative immobilization in a sling with a small abduction pillow. Active range of motion started at 6 weeks after surgery. Strengthening exercises started after 3 months, and sport activities from 6 months |
Burrus, M.T | 2019 | U.S.A. | R | 19229 | Patients with types of tear patterns and etiology that were not precisely described; Exclusion of patients requiring additional procedures (AC arthritis, biceps pathologies, and instability) | Number of surgeons involved and repair technique not precisely described | Rehabilitation procedure not precisely described |
Harada, G.K. | 2019 | U.S.A. | R | 1881 | Patients with types of tear patterns and etiology that were not precisely described; No specific exclusion criteria | Number of surgeons involved and repair technique not precisely described | Rehabilitation procedure not precisely described |
Cucchi, D. | 2020 | Italy | P | 237 | Patients with degenerative supraspinatus tears; Exclusion of patients requiring additional procedures (AC arthritis, biceps pathologies, and instability) | One surgeon involved, single-row repair technique used | Post-operative immobilization in a sling. Passive range of motion started after 1 month. Active range of motion started after reaching full passive range of motion. Strengthening exercises started after 3 months. Start of usual sport activities not precisely described |
Takahashi, R. | 2020 | Japan | R | 195 | Patients with types of tear patterns and etiology that were not precisely described; Exclusion of patients requiring additional procedures (instability) | One surgeon involved, suture-bridged repair technique used | Post-operative immobilization in an abduction brace for 4 weeks. Passive range of motion started directly after the operation. Active range of motion started after 4 weeks. Strengthening exercises started after 6 weeks. Start of usual sport activities after 6 months |