Supervised vs. Self-Managed Exercise Therapy for Improving Shoulder Function After Traumatic Dislocation and Sprain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Trauma-induced shoulder dislocations and sprains rank among the most common upper extremity injuries, with contact sports accounting for the majority of cases. These injuries often lead to substantial impairments in joint function and long recovery times, requiring targeted therapeutic interventions to restore mobility and prevent recurrent injuries. Given the pivotal role of exercise therapy in restoring shoulder function, this study systematically reviews the literature on the comparative effectiveness of supervised versus self-managed exercise therapy following acute shoulder trauma. PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase, Web of Science, and Science Direct were searched up to 13 December 2024. Conservative and post-surgical treatment modes were analyzed separately. Five studies with a total 689 participants were included (conservative: n = 538 across two studies; post-surgical: n = 151 across three studies). Both treatment modes showed similar pooled effects (standardized mean difference, SMDconservative: (Formula presented.), 95% CI [(Formula presented.), 0.69]; SMDpost-surgical: (Formula presented.), 95% CI [(Formula presented.), 0.75]), with a marginal improvement in shoulder function favoring supervised therapy. Four studies had some risk of bias, and one had serious risk; GRADE certainty was low. Supervised exercise therapy may offer slightly greater functional improvements over self-managed training, but evidence is limited by heterogeneity and low certainty. Further high-quality trials with standardized protocols and improved adherence tracking are needed to establish more definitive conclusions and guide clinical decision-making.