PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review was to analyze the current literature on the clinical outcomes of physiotherapy (PT) program after reversed total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) and to summarize the improvements in this population. METHODS: A search was performed in four databases (Medline, Embase, PubMed, Google Scholar) from its inception to 30 April 2020. Data were extracted to describe the study design and rehab programs. The quality of evidence was assessed as high, moderate, and low-level according to the Evaluation of Quality of an Intervention Study critical appraisal criteria. RESULTS: There were 22 eligible studies including two randomized controlled trials, four prospective cohort studies, 10 retrospective reviews, five case-series, and one case-control study, with the sample sizes ranging from 9 to 474 patients followed for 1 to 10 years. All studies indicated substantial improvement in patients after PT program in terms of functional outcomes and forward flexion. CONCLUSIONS: High-quality RCTs are required to provide more conclusive results. We identified substantial variation in the post-operative PT programs except for the progressive mobilization strategy and the common management following surgery to increase the soft tissue healing within 4 to 6 weeks.

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