Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42128285›Full record

Observational studyJournal of shoulder and elbow surgery2026

Factors associated with progression of symptomatic isolated supraspinatus tears 2 years after exercise therapy.

Jumpei Inoue, Luke T Mattar, Keishi Takaba, Satoshi Takeuchi, Adam J Popchak, Clair N Smith, Volker Musahl, Richard E Debski, James J Irrgang

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Jumpei InoueOrthopaedic Robotics Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Luke T MattarOrthopaedic Robotics Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Keishi TakabaOrthopaedic Robotics Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Satoshi TakeuchiOrthopaedic Robotics Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Toyahashi Medical Center, Toyohashi, Japan.
Adam J PopchakDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Clair N SmithDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Volker MusahlOrthopaedic Robotics Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Richard E DebskiOrthopaedic Robotics Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
James J IrrgangDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Electronic address: jirrgang@pitt.edu.

Funding

Predicting the Outcome of Exercise Therapy for Treatment of Rotator Cuff TearsR01AR069503 · NIAMS · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · PI Richard E Debski, JAMES JOHN IRRGANG · 2016 to 2026
$5.3M
NIAMS NIH HHS R01 AR069503
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAlthough exercise therapy is an effective treatment for individuals with symptomatic rotator cuff tendon tears, tear size can increase. Understanding factors associated with tear progression will provide information that may be used to develop treatment plans and/or monitor tear size progression. Therefore, this study aims to identify factors associated with tear progression in persons with an isolated symptomatic supraspinatus tendon tear that underwent 12 weeks of personalized exercise therapy.

methodsIndividuals with a symptomatic isolated supraspinatus tendon tear that was at least 50% partial- or full-thickness were prospectively enrolled in this observational study. Tear progression was evaluated using ultrasound and defined as more than 5 mm enlargement of tear size or change from partial thickness to full thickness tear at 2-year follow-up. One-hundred nine individuals were enrolled, of which 82 (mean age, 59.9 ± 9.1 years; 43 male) who underwent an ultrasound examination at 2 years follow-up or underwent rotator cuff surgery were included in the study. Factors possibly associated with tear propagation that were explored included age, sex, body mass index (BMI), hand dominance of the involved side, mechanism of onset of shoulder pain, history of smoking, work status, job type, tear size and thickness, and symptom duration at the time of enrollment. The variables were compared between those that did vs. did not have tear propagation using univariable and multivariable analyses.

resultsWithin 2 years of the exercise therapy, 25 (30.5%) had progression in the tear size. In the univariable analysis, BMI and history of smoking were significantly different between those with and without tear progression. (P = .021, P < .001, respectively). Multivariable analysis revealed that only history of smoking was associated with tear size progression while controlling for BMI (OR = 5.41, P = .002).

conclusionThis study revealed that individuals who are current or previous smokers had a 5.4 times higher odds of tear progression than non-smokers when controlling for BMI. Based on this prospective longitudinal observational study, counseling regarding the risks associated with smoking and periodic monitoring of tear size should be considered for smokers with an isolated symptomatic supraspinatus tear.

Indexed as

Exercise TherapyRotator Cuff InjuriesAgedDisease ProgressionFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesRisk FactorsTime FactorsUltrasonographyExercise therapyPrognosisSmokingSupraspinatus tearTear propagationUltrasound measurement

Identifiers

PMID42128285
PMCPMC13290290

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.