SPARS Rehabilitation Program for Rotator Cuff Injury

(SPARS-REHAB Trial)

Overseen By Helen Razmjou

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Disqualifiers: Neurologic deficit, Contralateral shoulder, Failed surgery

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 3-5 months

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if the Smart Physiotherapy Activity Recognition System (SPARS) can help individuals adhere to their shoulder exercises at home. SPARS employs a smartwatch and AI to monitor exercises, ensuring they are performed correctly and frequently. The trial targets individuals with shoulder injuries, such as rotator cuff tears, who are undergoing non-surgical treatments and physiotherapy. Participants should be capable of performing exercises at home. This research could enhance recovery by increasing exercise engagement and accuracy. As an unphased trial, it offers participants the chance to contribute to innovative research that could improve home-based physiotherapy for shoulder injuries.

Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that the Smart Physiotherapy Activity Recognition System (SPARS) is safe for tracking home shoulder physiotherapy exercises?

Research has shown that the Smart Physiotherapy Activity Recognition System (SPARS) is safe to use. In past studies, researchers tested SPARS with both healthy adults and individuals with shoulder injuries. It tracked shoulder exercises with an impressive accuracy of 99.99%, demonstrating the technology's reliability and lack of harm.

No reports of problems or safety issues have emerged in these studies, indicating that users tolerate the system well. Since SPARS uses a smartwatch to monitor exercises, it avoids new drugs or invasive procedures, which often raise more safety concerns.

Overall, current evidence indicates that SPARS is a safe way to track physiotherapy exercises at home. It helps ensure exercises are performed correctly, potentially improving recovery without adding risks. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the SPARS Rehabilitation Program for rotator cuff injuries because it leverages cutting-edge technology to enhance recovery. Unlike traditional physiotherapy, which relies heavily on manual assessment and guidance, SPARS uses a Smart Physiotherapy Activity Recognition System. This system incorporates sensors and data analysis to provide real-time feedback, personalizing the rehabilitation process for each individual. This approach aims to improve recovery outcomes by offering more precise and adaptive therapy, potentially leading to faster and more effective healing for patients with work-related shoulder injuries.

What evidence suggests that the SPARS system is effective for rotator cuff injury rehabilitation?

Research has shown that the Smart Physiotherapy Activity Recognition System (SPARS) can effectively monitor at-home exercises for people with shoulder injuries. One study accurately tracked daily exercises for 53 patients with rotator cuff injuries using SPARS. This trial will evaluate SPARS in two different participant groups. The first group, the Injured Worker Population, will use SPARS as part of their physiotherapy for work-related shoulder injuries. The second group, the OHIP (funded) Patient Population, will serve as an active comparator. Early results indicate that SPARS could increase patient involvement in their physical therapy routines. While more research is needed, these findings suggest SPARS might aid in better recovery from shoulder injuries by encouraging consistent home exercise. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Helen Razmjou

Principal Investigator

Sunnybrook Holland Orthopaedic & Arthritic Centre

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for men and women over 18 who can do shoulder physiotherapy at home. They must have a rotator cuff injury like tendinosis, impingement syndrome, or a tear that's being treated without surgery. People with issues in the other shoulder, failed shoulder surgery, or nerve problems in the arm can't join.

Inclusion Criteria

I am over 18 years old.

I am planning to manage my condition without surgery.

I have been diagnosed with a shoulder condition or injury affecting the rotator cuff.

Exclusion Criteria

My other shoulder is painful and I can't move it well, needing treatment.

My shoulder surgery for a torn rotator cuff did not work.

I have weakness or numbness in my arm or hand.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo physiotherapy with SPARS smart watch tracking during supervised and home exercises

3-5 months

Weekly supervised physiotherapy sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, including surveys and shoulder testing

Up to 1 year

Monthly follow-up visits, final treatment session, and 1-year follow-up

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Smart Physiotherapy Activity Recognition System (SPARS)

Trial Overview The study tests a new system called SPARS that uses smartwatches and AI to track how well patients follow their home-based shoulder physiotherapy routines. It aims to see if this tech improves patient engagement and recovery from common shoulder injuries.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Experimental: Injured Worker Population Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants that have a confirmed rotator cuff pathology, and are undergoing physiotherapy at the Holland Centre for a work-related shoulder injury as part of the Working Condition Program.

Group II: Active Comparator: OHIP (funded) Patient Population Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants that have a confirmed rotator cuff pathology, and are undergoing physiotherapy at the Holland Centre as part of the Shoulder Program.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Lead Sponsor

Trials

693

Recruited

1,569,000+

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Collaborator

Trials

1,417

Recruited

26,550,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A randomized controlled trial showed that patients with subacromial pain syndrome using the DAid smart shirt experienced significantly better recovery outcomes compared to a reference group, as measured by standardized tests (p < 0.001).

The DAid smart shirt provides real-time feedback on shoulder motion, helping patients perform exercises more accurately, which enhances muscle control and contributes to improved rehabilitation results.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improving the Recovery of Patients with Subacromial Pain Syndrome with the DAid Smart Textile Shirt. Semjonova, G., Vetra, J., Cauce, V., et al.[2021]

Citations

1. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39888607/

Quantifying the Relationship Between At-Home Shoulder ... This study uses the Smart Physiotherapy Activity Recognition System to measure at-home physiotherapy ... injury based on inertial sensor data ...

2. bio-protocol.org bio-protocol.org/exchange/minidetail?id=6849258&type=30

Smart Physiotherapy Activity Recognition System ... The DASH has proven reliability, validity, and responsiveness in patients with shoulder problems [96-98]. Manual muscle testing and range of motion measurement ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590109525000205

Quantifying At-Home Physiotherapy Participation: SPARS ... Daily at-home exercise participation (sessions) was recorded for 53 patients with rotator cuff pathology during their first 2 weeks of a 12-week physiotherapy ...

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7381014/

Adherence Tracking With Smart Watches for Shoulder ... We have developed the Smart Physiotherapy Activity Recognition System (SPARS), a novel solution for measuring adherence to home shoulder ...

5. ctv.veeva.com ctv.veeva.com/study/novel-shoulder-rehabilitation-program-spars-rehab

Novel Shoulder Rehabilitation Program (SPARS-REHAB) The investigators have recently developed a Smart Physiotherapy Activity Recognition System (SPARS) for tracking home shoulder physiotherapy ...

6. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/ai-monitoring-for-physiotherapy-after-rotator-cuff-injury-d2822

AI Monitoring for Physiotherapy After Rotator Cuff Injury ... Researchers at Sunnybrook have tested out a Smart Physiotherapy Recognition System (SPARS), which consists of a watch that patients can wear while they are ...

7. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/389951522_Quantifying_At-Home_Physiotherapy_Participation_SPARS_Smart_Physiotherapy_Activity_Recognition_System_vs_Self-Reported_Diaries

Quantifying At-Home Physiotherapy Participation: SPARS ... This study uses the Smart Physiotherapy Activity Recognition System to measure at-home physiotherapy participation in patients with rotator cuff injury based on ...

8. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11086333/

Advanced Home-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation Incorporated into the Smart Physiotherapy Activity Recognition System (SPARS), the CRNN model takes the fixed-length windows of sensor data ...