Is formal physical therapy necessary after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty? A single-blinded, randomized controlled trial

This study suggests that self-directed home therapy following reverse shoulder arthroplasty may be a viable alternative to formal SPT. Although the findings were limited by reduced in-person follow-up rates, which may have underpowered certain comparisons, the results consistently showed no significant differences between the two approaches across multiple outcome measures. These findings have important implications for patients who face barriers to accessing formal physical therapy due to circumstances, cost, or comorbidities, suggesting that a well-structured home exercise program may provide comparable outcomes. Future research with larger sample sizes and higher follow-up rates would be valuable to confirm these findings.