Kinesiotaping for the Rehabilitation of Rotator Cuff-Related Shoulder Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background: Kinesiotaping (KT) has been widely used in clinical practice. Current evidence is insufficient to support the use of KT for treating rotator cuff-related shoulder pain (RCRSP), as its mid- and long-term effects have not been investigated.

Hypotheses: Individuals using KT will achieve faster improvements in symptoms and functional limitations compared with those not using it. They will also present a greater increase in pain-free range of motion (ROM) and acromiohumeral distance (AHD) at the end of the treatment.

Study design: Randomized controlled trial (NCT02881021).

Level of evidence: Therapy, level 1b.

Methods: A total of 52 individuals with RCRSP, randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups (experimental: KT; control: no-KT), underwent a 6-week rehabilitation program composed of 10 physical therapy sessions. KT was added to the treatment of the KT group. Symptoms and functional limitations were assessed using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire (primary outcome); Brief Pain Inventory (BPI); and Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) index at baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months. AHD, pain-free ROM, and full ROM were measured at baseline and at week 6. The effects of KT were assessed using a nonparametric analysis for longitudinal data.

Results: No significant group × time interactions (0.112 ≤ P ≤ 0.726) were found for all outcomes. Time effects were observed as both groups showed significant improvements for all studied outcomes (DASH, BPI, and WORC, p < 0.0001; AHD, p = 0.017; pain-free ROM, p < 0.0001; and full ROM abduction, p ≤ 0.0001).

Conclusion: Whereas symptoms, functional limitations, ROM, and AHD improved in both groups, the addition of KT did not lead to superior outcomes compared with exercise-based treatment alone, in the mid and long term, for individuals with RCRSP.

Clinical relevance: Clinicians should not expect supplementary mid- or long-term gains with KT to reduce pain, improve shoulder function and ROM, or increase AHD if a rehabilitation program focusing on shoulder neuromuscular control is concurrently provided as treatment for individuals with RCRSP.

Keywords: elastic tape; kinesiology taping; physical therapy; rotator cuff; shoulder pain; tendon injuries.

Figure 1.

Kinesiotaping technique for rotator cuff–related shoulder pain and underlying deficits. An anchor of 5 cm was laid with 0% tension in each extremity of all strips. First strip (1: Y-shape for hypothetical inhibition and muscle relaxation, light tension [15%-25%], surrounding the 3 portions of the deltoid muscles as a group, from insertion to origin), second strip (2: I-shape for shoulder functional correction, recommended for multiaxial shoulder instability, severe tension [50%-75%], from 7 to 10 cm above the acromioclavicular joint to 7 to 10 cm below the deltoid tuberosity, passing over the supraspinatus, trapezius, glenohumeral joint, and middle deltoid muscle), and third strip (3: I-shape, for mechanical correction of glenohumeral joint, severe tension [50%-75%], placed with inward pressure, from the coracoid process to posterior deltoid, just slightly below the coracoacromial arch).

Figure 2.

Flow diagram of participants through the study.

Figure 3.

Mean group scores for symptoms and functional limitations: (a) Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (DASH); (b) Brief Pain Inventory (BPI); and (c) Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) index. In all 3 questionnaires, statistically significant time effects were observed in the pooled group (N = 52) (see Table 4). KT, kinesiotaping.