A New Study for Shoulder Arthritis, Without Surgery
The UBMD Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Upper Extremity Team is recruiting participants for a clinical trial. The study looks at whether physical therapy and home exercise can help patients manage shoulder arthritis pain and improve function, without surgery.
Any time a medical practice asks you to consider joining a study, it makes sense to ask who is running it and why their opinion carries weight. Here is what a quick look into this team turns up.
Led By a Nationally Recognized Shoulder Specialist
Dr. Matthew DiPaola directs the Upper Extremity Team behind this trial. He is fellowship-trained and board-certified, treating shoulder and elbow conditions exclusively rather than general orthopedics.
In 2021, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons awarded him the Charles S. Neer Award, the top research honor in shoulder and elbow surgery in the country. He trained under Dr. Joseph Zuckerman at NYU, a past president of both ASES and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery.
Backed By an Academic Medical Center
This is not a study run out of a private clinic with no oversight. Dr. DiPaola is a Clinical Associate Professor of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
That academic affiliation means the research follows university-level standards for design and review. It also means findings from this trial can contribute to how shoulder arthritis gets treated well beyond Western New York.
A Surgeon Who Studies Non-Surgical Care Too
Patients sometimes assume a surgeon’s only interest is more surgery. Dr. DiPaola’s practice does not work that way. He evaluates every patient individually and starts with the least invasive option when it fits the diagnosis.
This trial reflects that same approach. It asks a direct research question: can physical therapy and home exercise meaningfully help people with ball-and-socket shoulder arthritis avoid or delay surgery? That is a question worth funding real research to answer, rather than guessing.
Who Can Take Part
You may be eligible if you meet these criteria.
Diagnosis – You have been diagnosed with arthritis of the ball-and-socket joint of the shoulder.
Surgical History – You have not had surgery on the affected shoulder within the past year.
Upcoming Procedures – You are not scheduled for shoulder replacement surgery within the next six months.
How to Get Involved
If you or someone you know has shoulder arthritis and wants to explore non-surgical options, this trial may be worth a conversation.
Sharing this with friends or family who deal with shoulder pain helps the study reach more of the people it is designed to help.