Effect of Perturbation Exercise Protocol in Patients With Partial Rotator Cuff Tear: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Overview

Partial rotator cuff tears negatively affect shoulder stability, proprioception, and neuromuscular control. Perturbation-based rehabilitation has been shown to enhance reflex muscle activation and dynamic joint stabilization; however, randomized controlled studies investigating its effects in patients with partial rotator cuff tears are limited. This single-blind randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the long-term effects of a perturbation exercise protocol on pain, proprioception, muscle strength, range of motion, and functional performance in individuals with partial rotator cuff tears. Sixty participants will be randomly assigned to either a conventional physiotherapy group or a perturbation-based rehabilitation group. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, post-treatment (10 days), and one month follow-up.

Partial rotator cuff tears are common musculoskeletal disorders that negatively affect shoulder stability, neuromuscular control, muscle strength, and functional performance. Damage to mechanoreceptors within the rotator cuff complex may impair proprioceptive feedback and dynamic stabilization, leading to persistent pain and recurrent microtrauma. Conventional physiotherapy programs primarily focus on pain reduction and strengthening exercises. However, neuromuscular control deficits and proprioceptive impairments may not be fully addressed through traditional rehabilitation approaches. Perturbation-based exercise training has been proposed as a rehabilitation strategy aimed at enhancing reflexive muscle activation, improving co-contraction patterns, and promoting dynamic joint stability through controlled external disturbances. Although perturbation exercises have shown promising effects in other shoulder pathologies and postoperative populations, randomized controlled trials investigating their long-term effects in individuals with partial rotator cuff tears are limited. This single-blind randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a perturbation-based rehabilitation program in addition to conventional physiotherapy on shoulder muscle strength (primary outcome), pain intensity, range of motion, proprioception, and functional performance. Sixty participants will be randomly assigned to either a control group receiving conventional therapy alone or an experimental group receiving additional perturbation exercises. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, post-treatment (10 days), and one-month follow-up. The findings of this study may contribute to evidence-based rehabilitation strategies and help optimize treatment protocols for patients with partial rotator cuff tears.