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Publisher: Peytchinski Publishing Ltd.
ISSN: 1312-773X (Online)
Issue: 2026, vol. 32, issue2
Subject Area: Public Health
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DOI: 10.5272/jimab.2026322.6867
Published online: 01 June 2026
Original article
J of IMAB. 2026 Apr-Jun;32(2):6867-6871
INDIVIDUAL PHYSIOTHERAPEUTIC APPROACH AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE AFTER REVERSE SHOULDER ARTHROPLASTY
Valentin Velchev1
, Konstantin Kapitanov2,
1) Department of Kinesitherapy, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University - Varna, Bulgaria.
2) Department of Statistics and Applied Mathematics, University of Economics, Varna, Bulgaria.
ABSTRACT:
Introduction: Shoulder arthroplasty is a recognised surgical intervention that has proven its effectiveness. Postoperative recovery of patients with shoulder pathology undergoing arthroplasty is associated with the necessity for changes in standard physiotherapeutic protocols, incl. complementary methods.
Purpose: to evaluate the effectiveness of the developed multimodal physiotherapeutic programme among patients after shoulder arthroplasty.
Material and methods: 52 patients with shoulder arthroplasty due to a shoulder complex pathology. The patients were sporadically designated into two groups - group 1 (G1) and group 2 (G2). Patients from G1 underwent a classic physiotherapeutic programme on the 2nd postoperative day until the 16th week. The patients from G2 underwent a multimodal physiotherapeutic programme after the 4th postoperative week until the 16th week. A questionnaire for diagnosing the condition of the shoulder, "Constant Shoulder Score", goniometry and manual muscle testing were applied before and after the programme's completion.
Results and discussion: The data obtained via Constant Shoulder Score show that pain intensity, arm positioning, range of motion, as well as activities of daily living improved significantly during the observation period. The applied multimodal physiotherapeutic programme significantly reduces pain in the operated upper extremity at a much earlier stage. The rapid improvement of muscle strength of the arthroplasty shoulder accelerated the functional recovery of the entire upper extremity.
Conclusions: the individual physiotherapeutic approach allows the effective inclusion of the methods of complementary medicine after a Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty. Cupping therapy in combination with a physiotherapeutic programme facilitates overcoming the pain and allows for an earlier start of rehabilitation.
Keywords: kinesitherapy, cupping therapy, complementary medicine, individual physiotherapeutic approach,
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Please cite this article as: Velchev V, Kapitanov K. Individual Physiotherapeutic Approach and Complementary Medicine After Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty. J of IMAB. 2026 Apr-Jun;32(2):6867-6871. [Crossref - 10.5272/jimab.2026322.6867]
Correspondence to: Valentin Velchev, Department of Kinesitherapy, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University – Varna; 1, Hr. Smirnenski Blvd., Varna, Bulgaria. E-mail: vvelchev1984@abv.bg
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Received: 23 October 2025
Published online: 01 June 2026