About the study

The RaCeR study has been funded by the National Institute for Health Research, Research for Patient Benefit Scheme. The total duration of the study is 27 months, beginning 1 st May 2018.
The aim of the RaCeR pilot study is to find out whether it is feasible to conduct a future large study to determine which is the best approach to rehabilitation following surgical repair of the rotator cuff.

In the RaCeR study, patients who are having surgery for a rotator cuff tear will receive one of two rehabilitation programmes; early patient-led mobilisation (movement), using pain as a guide, or immobilisation of the arm in a sling for a month. After one month both groups of patients will have rehabilitation led by a physiotherapist as per standard practice. The key difference is that those in the early rehabilitation group begin moving their shoulder more quickly after the operation.

Patients will report their levels of pain and disability after surgery by completing questionnaires and responding to text messages to rate their recovery. A shoulder ultrasound scan at twelve weeks will check how the rotator cuff is healing. 

Alongside this trial we will interview patients and clinicians to discuss their experience of the trial and the treatments they received. The findings from the interviews along with other information from the trial will help us decide whether it is feasible to conduct a future large study to test if early rehabilitation is better for patients.