Smart phone applications in the conservative management of shoulder dislocation rehabilitation (SPACS): An orthopaedic trial in the efficacy of smart phone applications as an adjunct in the rehabilitation of shoulder dislocations

N.B. Location has been changed to Toowoomba Base Hospital, Darling Downs QLD - pending SSA approval. This passage should read as: “ The intervention are of the trial will receive access to a smart phone application detailing their condition, prognosis and expected recovery time along with text and video content detailing their rehabilitation program, This program will be supervised by a physiotherapist (with at least 5 years experience) in conjunction with the treating surgeon/medical officer (senior and junior medical officers under the supervision of a senior consultant orthopaedics surgeon). The exercises within the app. will be industry standardised rotator cuff and stability exercises such as "Codman circles", Active range of motion stretches, and strengthening exercises i.e. shoulder abduction with dumbbell or weight. each exercise will have explanatory text and a short video clip demonstrating the movements. The application would also prompt/remind the patient to practice their rehabilitation exercises as well as give them feedback r.e. Their progress. The application will also serve as a method of data collection where as the patient will receive periodic questionnaires and requests for feedback - particularly the Oxford instability and stability questionnaires - to track their progress. The application will be free to the patient and there will be regular follow-up and supervision with clinicians and allied health. The patient will be required to pass a supervised program with the departments physiotherapist before being approved for individual rehabilitation exercises via the application. The patient will have follow up at one week post injury - by which the patient will be assessed by the physiotherapist and medical officer and the application introduced. Their will then be a three, six and potentially twelve and twenty four week follow-up. These follow-up will depend on the patients adherence to the treatment plan i.e. the trial drop out rate. If the Patients delete the app. and no longer respond to emails at 24 weeks then follow-up may be lost. These follow-up session will be within the Darling Downs Health service. There will be no personalisation of the intervention meaning that if the rehabilitation program derived on the application is not suitable the patient will not be eligible for the trial. Adherence will be assessed according to the response from the regular periodic questionnaires and patient feedback. N.B. The rehabilitation program and information provided by the app will be created/designed in conjunction with the senior orthopaedic physiotherapist and Consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Toowoomba Base Hospital as well as being referenced with empirical evidenced and industry approved standards”