Kinesio taping has no immediate effect on shoulder isometric scapation strength: a study of healthy participants

Abstract

Background: Shoulder function is directly related to scapular kinematics and the scapula has always been a part of shoulder rehabilitation. Kinesio Taping (KT) is a specific taping technique where flexible tapes indirectly stabilize underlying soft tissues to modify their behavior. KT has been utilized for scapular stabilization in shoulder rehabilitation but its effect on shoulder strength was not examined before. Objectives: The aim of this self-controlled therapeutic study was to assess the effect of KT on shoulder scapation (arm elevation in scapular plane) strength in healthy individuals. Methods: This study was conducted on 160 shoulders of 80 healthy volunteers (34 males, 46 females; mean age: 23.8 [18-30]). The shoulder scaption strength was recorded, using an electronic dynamometer, as the maximal value of 3 consecutive measurements in two different forearm positions: 'palm down' and 'empty can'. Two sets of measurements, 3 days apart, were taken. The results of untaped and taped measurements were compared. Scapular taping, dominant side, forearm position, sex, and body mass index (BMI) were analyzed. Results: The test-retest findings of both forearm positions were highly correlated with ICCs ranging 0.978-0.990. There was no significant difference in strength between 'without KT' and 'with KT', 69.46 +/- 26.94 N vs 70.33 +/- 28.01 N, respectively (p = 0.126). In both experimental conditions, forearm position did not affect strength There was no significant difference between the results without and with Kinesio Taping in both forearm positions: p = 0.458 (without), p = 0.141 (with). Dominant side and male sex resulted in superior scores (p = 0.0001) while a positive correlation was calculated between BMI and shoulder strength (p = 0.0001, r = 0.4). CONCLUSIONS: Based on our comparisons, scapular KT does not appear to influence scaption strength in healthy individuals.