Rehabilitation evaluation system for rotator cuff repairs-develop a limitable pendulum exercise brace

Shoulder disorders in general incidence of musculoskeletal are ranked as the third rotator cuff tear from the top [1]. With rapidly-advanced surgical techniques, optimal rehabilitation following rotator cuff repair has become increasingly important and challenging for orthopedic surgeons and physical therapists [2]. This study will use the concept of Evidence-based medicine (EBM), and utilizes systematic reviews in rotator cuff repair rehabilitation protocols to develop a limitable pendulum exercise brace and a rotator cuff repair evaluation system. This will include improving the monitoring of the rehabilitation pendulum exercise device to enhance therapists´ communication with patients. The monitoring of the pendulum exercise brace is used to form an accelerometer, and the performance data is collected in the rehabilitation evaluation database. Patients are recruited according to the study protocol approved by the Cheng Hsin General Hospital´s Inc Institutional Review Board. The primary outcome measures of the current study are to prospectively characterize the anatomical and vascular patterns in repaired rotator cuff tendons after conducting a rotator cuff repair procedure using Power Doppler sonography in a double-blinded fashion. The monitoring of the pendulum exercise activity was recorded in 13 subjects performing pendulum exercises incorrectly and correctly in both vertical direction movements and only horizontal direction, which were carried out to the preoperative pendulum exercise instruction´s satisfaction and the observations entered into the questionnaires by the qualified physical therapists in supervision. All of the subjects expressed a good understanding of the pendulum exercise and correct arm activity body perception as indicated by the computer monitoring and assistive technology instruction. Use of the assistive technology and the computer-assisted instruction to improve each patient´s body perception is desirable in preoperative rotator c- ff repair rehabilitation education.