Lucas de Oliveira FC1, Bouyer L1, de Fontenay B1, Desmeules F2, Roy J-S1
1Laval University, Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration (CIRRIS), Quebec City, Canada, 2Montreal University, School of Rehabilitation, Montreal, Canada
Background: Rotator cuff tendinopathy (RCTe) is the most frequent cause of shoulder pain. Kinesiotaping is a therapeutic resource widely used in clinics. While studies have examined the immediate effects of kinesiotaping on shoulder injuries, no published study has addressed its mid- and long-term effects when combined with a rehabilitation program for patients with RCTe.
Purpose: To evaluate the mid- and long-term effects of kinesiotaping added to a 6-week rehabilitation programme for reducing symptoms, functional limitations and underlying deficits of individuals with rotator cuff tendinopathy (RCTe).
Methods: Fifty-two participants with RCTe were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups (kinesiotaping [KT]; and no-kinesiotaping [No-KT]). All participants received the same 6-week rehabilitation programme composed of 10 physiotherapy sessions. Kinesiotaping, however, was used in participants in the KT-group. Symptoms and functional limitations were assessed with Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH; primary outcome) questionnaire, Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) index at baseline, week-3, week-6, week-12, and 6-months, while pain-free, full range of motion (ROM) and acromiohumeral distance (AHD) were measured at baseline and week-6. A blinded evaluator conducted the outcomes assessments. The effects of kinesiotaping were assessed using a two or three-way repeated-measures ANOVA.
Results: No significant Group x Time interactions (.386≤ p ≤.638) were found for all outcomes. All measures showed significant similar improvements for both groups in DASH, BPI, and WORC at week-3, week-6, week-12, and 6-months compared to baseline (time effects: p .001), and for pain-free ROM, full ROM, and AHD (p .05).
Conclusion(s): Whereas symptoms, functional limitations, ROM, and AHD improved in both groups, there was no between-group differences in the mid- and long-term. Therefore, kinesiotaping did not provide additional benefits to a 6-week rehabilitation programme for individuals with RCTe to improve symptoms and functional limitations.
Implications: Physiotherapists and clinicians may keep using kinesiotaping in their rehabilitation programme for patients with RCTe; however, they must be aware that kinesiotaping will not provide additional mid- and long-term benefits for reducing pain, improving ROM, or increasing AHD.
Keywords: Elastic tape, shoulder pain, physiotherapy
Funding acknowledgements: This work was supported by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) through the Science without Borders program.
Purpose: To evaluate the mid- and long-term effects of kinesiotaping added to a 6-week rehabilitation programme for reducing symptoms, functional limitations and underlying deficits of individuals with rotator cuff tendinopathy (RCTe).
Methods: Fifty-two participants with RCTe were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups (kinesiotaping [KT]; and no-kinesiotaping [No-KT]). All participants received the same 6-week rehabilitation programme composed of 10 physiotherapy sessions. Kinesiotaping, however, was used in participants in the KT-group. Symptoms and functional limitations were assessed with Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH; primary outcome) questionnaire, Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) index at baseline, week-3, week-6, week-12, and 6-months, while pain-free, full range of motion (ROM) and acromiohumeral distance (AHD) were measured at baseline and week-6. A blinded evaluator conducted the outcomes assessments. The effects of kinesiotaping were assessed using a two or three-way repeated-measures ANOVA.
Results: No significant Group x Time interactions (.386≤ p ≤.638) were found for all outcomes. All measures showed significant similar improvements for both groups in DASH, BPI, and WORC at week-3, week-6, week-12, and 6-months compared to baseline (time effects: p .001), and for pain-free ROM, full ROM, and AHD (p .05).
Conclusion(s): Whereas symptoms, functional limitations, ROM, and AHD improved in both groups, there was no between-group differences in the mid- and long-term. Therefore, kinesiotaping did not provide additional benefits to a 6-week rehabilitation programme for individuals with RCTe to improve symptoms and functional limitations.
Implications: Physiotherapists and clinicians may keep using kinesiotaping in their rehabilitation programme for patients with RCTe; however, they must be aware that kinesiotaping will not provide additional mid- and long-term benefits for reducing pain, improving ROM, or increasing AHD.
Keywords: Elastic tape, shoulder pain, physiotherapy
Funding acknowledgements: This work was supported by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) through the Science without Borders program.
Topic: Musculoskeletal: upper limb; Sport & sports injuries; Orthopaedics
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Institut de réadaptation en déficience physique de Québec (IRDPQ)
Ethics committee: Rehabilitation and social integration research ethics committee of the CIUSSS-CN
Ethics number: #2016-496
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
