Shoulder Arthroplasty clinical trials

Preoperative Rehabilitation and Education Program

Shoulder problems affect many Canadians yearly. While surgery is one of the best treatments for shoulder problems, patients are unaware about shoulder replacement surgeries, the exercises needed after surgery and how to safely recover from the surgery without having another injury. Uncertainties about the surgery and recovery process can further cause post-surgery problems such as: pain, anxiety and re-injury. While some healthcare centers offer an in- class program to educate patients before surgery, some patients face issues with distance or transportation, and cannot regularly meet their doctor to address all their concerns. This project aims to create an online educational program that will teach patients through online videos and educational materials before they go into shoulder replacement surgery. By creating online modules, it can increase the accessibility for home use, and prepare patients on topics such as: their concerns about the surgery and proper exercises they can expect after surgery for a safe recovery. The aim is to study three groups of patients before surgery; 1. a group consisting of an online pre-rehabilitation program 6 weeks before surgery, 2. a group consisting of an online pre-rehabilitation program 6 weeks before surgery + therapist or 3. A group consisting of the current standard of care, which is a WebEx pre-operative education class lead by a physiotherapist and occupational therapist. Researchers will monitor all groups on their recovery before and after surgery. This will provide another alternative to informing patients before surgery and help them to prepare better for surgery. The online modules will contribute to improving the care in Southern Ontario and eventually be used for future care across Canada.