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What Does the Research Say?
Home Therapy vs Clinic After Reverse Shoulder Replacement: The SHORT Trial
A 2025 multicenter randomized controlled trial of 222 shoulders found no difference in outcomes between surgeon-directed home exercise and formal outpatient physical therapy, but a significant difference in cost.
Home Therapy
$11,285
One-year care cycle cost
Surgeon-directed home exercise program with structured protocols and regular follow-up.
Formal Physical Therapy
$17,837
One-year care cycle cost
Outpatient supervised rehabilitation by licensed therapists.
Savings Per Patient
$6,552
p < 0.01
Statistically significant cost reduction with equivalent clinical outcomes
Shoulders Studied
222
Multicenter RCT
Randomized controlled trial across multiple surgical centers
Follow-Up
2
Years of outcome data
No differences in ROM, ASES score, Simple Shoulder Test, VAS pain, complications, or revision rates at 1 and 2 years
Outcome Difference
0
No significant difference
No significant difference in any measured outcome between home therapy and formal physical therapy
3 Takeaways for Your Practice
1
Screening Priority
Identify Who Can Succeed at Home
Most patients do well with home programs, but those with complications, cognitive barriers, or multiple comorbidities may need supervised PT. The trial allowed transitions to formal therapy as needed.
2
Patient Education
Structured Programs Are the Key Ingredient
Both groups received structured protocols and regular surgeon follow-up. The savings come from reducing supervised sessions, not from reducing guidance. Clear instructions and progression criteria make home programs work.
3
Cost-Effective Care
This Is About Value, Not Cutting Corners
Home therapy is not inferior therapy. It is equivalent outcomes at lower cost. Formal PT remains essential for complex cases, but routine reverse arthroplasty patients can achieve excellent results at home.
Product Spotlight:
Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: Evidence-Based Update
$37.97
This advanced continuing education course provides an up-to-date, evidence-based overview of rehabilitation and complication management after anatomic and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). Using current research and clinical guidelines, the course reviews surgical indications, compares outcomes of anatomic vs. reverse… read more
This content is for informational purposes for licensed clinicians and does not constitute medical advice or a substitute for your own clinical research and judgment. Content may include AI-synthesized information; all clinical data, protocols, and dosages must be verified against official primary sources prior to patient care. Any reference to CE rules or regulations is provided as a guide and must be independently verified against current governing body requirements prior to completing credits. This article may contain links to external websites or third-party AI platforms. Ridley Learning has no control over the nature, content, and availability of those sites and does not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them. Ridley Learning is not liable for any injury, loss, clinical outcomes, or licensure issues resulting from the use of or reliance on this information. Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of these terms.
Meet the Author: Anne Osborn, PT, MPT
Anne Perry Osborn is a distinguished physical therapist and entrepreneur with over two decades of experience bridging clinical practice and healthcare education. She holds a Master of Physical Therapy from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and currently serves as the Owner and Director of Quality and Accreditation at Ridley Learning. With a background that includes clinical roles in outpatient rehabilitation and home health, Anne brings practical, hands-on insight to her leadership in continuing education, ensuring that learning opportunities remain relevant and impactful for today's practitioners.
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