By Jessica Heath and Neal Goulet

Developed by a Japanesechiropractor more than 30 yearsago, kinesiology tape had itscoming out party at the 2008Summer Olympics.

It was everywhere at the2012 Games, too, colorful stripsvisible on the exposed skin of beach volleyball players,rowers, divers.

When the world gathersfor the 2014 Winter Games inRussia, it’s certain that the tapewill be present if less conspicu-ous under cold-weather garb.

After all, in 2010, Americanskier Lindsey Vonn reportedlywore strips of kinesiology tapeon her shin prior to winningthe downhill, and the goldmedal-winning U.S. bobsledteam known as “Night Train”was sponsored by one of thetape manufacturers.

But the tape – also knowngenerically as elastic therapeutictape and by brand names suchas Kinesio®, RockTape® andPerformTex® – is not just usedon world-class athletes. TheOlympic exposure got the public into the game, too.

“It helped that the conduitwas a tall and toned blonde with… an Olympic gold medal:American beach volleyball playerKerri Walsh, who competed inBeijing [2008] with an eye-catch-ing black swatch of Kinesio tapeon her shoulder,” wrote the

Albuquerque Journal newspaper.Walsh was at it again in

2012, as was German rivalKatrin Holtwick, strips of tapeflowing down her abdomen ina pattern that resembled noth-ing so much as a teal squid.

RELIEVING PAINIt was a perhaps uninten-

tional fashion statement, but thereal purpose behind kinesiologytape is to improve health byrelieving pain in muscles andjoints. Many people – elite ath-letes, everyday patients andmedical professionals alike –swear by the tape’s effectiveness.

Dr. Jennifer Solomon, teamphysician for the U.S. TennisAssociation, told ABC News thatathletes think kinesiology tapeimproves their performance.

"But there's no solid scientific evidence that this

tape helps," Solomon said.Physical therapists work

with other types of tape: thetraditional white athletic tape,commonly found in trainingrooms, and adhesive sports tapebrands such as Leukotape® thathelps to support joints, tendonsand ligaments and improve bodyposture and body awareness.Each of these works on the basisof restricting movement, in sharpcontrast to kinesiology tape.

The term “kinesio” derivesfrom the word kinesiology: the scientific study of humanmovement. Dr. Kenzo Kase wasa Chicago-trained chiropractorand acupuncturist working in his native Japan when hedeveloped a tape that wouldmimic the texture and elasticityof human skin so as not torestrict movement.

The original Kinesio-brandtape is made of cotton fiber withan acrylic adhesive. Its manufac-turer touts its cost-effectivenessas it can be worn for three to fivedays per treatment. Consumersmay purchase the tape onlinein rolls or in pre-cut pieces,although there is a method toapplying it that should be leftto trained professionals.

While some of the tapingpatterns found on Olympicathletes suggest a randomness,the Kinesio Taping Association

has trained more than 50,000people worldwide in the KinesioTaping® Method that Kasedeveloped. Becoming a CertifiedKinesio Taping Practitioner®requires the successful comple-tion of three eight-hour coursesand a written exam.

While Kinesio Tape citesits use by more than half of all

Continued on Page 2

4

RESEARCH ABSTRACT

Taping’s Effect on Baseball Shoulder Pain

Tale of the TapeBy Jessica Heath

INTRODUCTIONSubacromial impingement

syndrome is one of the mostcommon causes of shoulder painseen by orthopedic physicians. Italso is one of the most frequentcauses of pain in “overhead ath-letes,” such as baseball players, whoare required to make repetitivemotions over their heads.

Many factors can contributeto shoulder pain, includinginstability of the glenohumeraljoint, overuse of the rotator cufftendon, and a decreased roleplayed by the scapular stabiliz-ing muscles. This key group ofmuscles, consisting of the trapez-ius and serratus anterior, providecorresponding movement withthe humerus to clear the rotatorcuff and prevent impingement.

For this reason, rehabilita-tion for many patients with sub-acromial impingement has cen-tered on scapular control. Onemethod to facilitate control ofthe scapula is taping. The pur-pose of this study was to identifythe effects of elastic therapeutictaping on scapular kinematics,muscle strength and electromyo-graphy (EMG) activity in base-ball players with shoulder pain.

METHODSSeventeen amateur base-

ball players with subacromialimpingement syndrome wereused for this study, identifiedwith the help of these tests: (1)

a history of proximal anterioror lateral shoulder pain formore than one week during thepast six months; (2) painful arcwith active shoulder elevation;(3) tenderness to palpation ofrotator cuff tendons; (4) painwith resisted isometric shoul-der abduction; (5) positive“Jobe’s test” (empty can test).

Measurements were taken ofmuscle strength, EMG and scapu-lar motion performed in bothkinesiology tape and placebotape applications. During a scap-tion task (movement of the armoverhead in the scapular plane),muscle strength of the lowertrapezius was measured, EMG

activity was monitored, andscapular motion was evaluated.

RESULTSScapular kinematics: Both

the kinesiology and placebotapings assisted in normalizingthe scapular kinematics.

Scapular muscle activity:Facilitated (increased) muscleactivity was found with kinesi-ology taping on the loweringphase of the scaption task. Acompensatory and negativeeffect of increased upper trapez-ius activation was seen with theplacebo tape. Researchers haveseen this previously and hypoth-esize that it may be the result of

the non-elastic tape forcingsubjects to over-compensate.

Scapular strength:Compared with the placebo,the kinesiology taping methodshowed marginal increase in lower trapezius strength,most likely explained by thepositioning of the scapula.

DISCUSSIONBased upon the results of

this study, kinesiology tapingmay assist in the rehabilitationof patients with subacromialimpingement disorders.However, the benefit is specificto patients with limited lowertrapezius activity.

CENTERS IN:CORPORATE OFFICE

8205 PRESIDENTS DRIVEHUMMELSTOWN, PA 17036 717-220-2100www.drayerpt.com

ALABAMAGEORGIAKENTUCKYMARYLAND

MISSISSIPPINEW JERSEYNEW YORKNORTH CAROLINAOHIO

PENNSYLVANIASOUTH CAROLINATENNESSEEVIRGINIAWEST VIRGINIA

Subacromial impingement syndrome is common in baseball players, who make repetitive motionsover their heads.

Kinesiology tape was designed to mimic the texture and elasticityof human skin so as not to restrict movement.

Scan this code to watch a kinesiology taping video.

Volume 10, Issue 1

86538 12/18/13 5:04 AM Page 1

By Ryan Bechtel and Jessica Heath

PATIENT HISTORYA 70-year-old male was

referred to physical therapywith a partial tear of his leftAchilles tendon. He had spentapproximately two months in awalking boot but recently wasdischarged by his doctor towalk as tolerated without theboot. He presented to physicaltherapy with complaints ofpain and edema (swelling).

The initial injury occurredwhile he was working part timeas a cook, when a swingingdoor hit him in the back of hisleg. His primary complaint waspain with sustained standingand squatting, and an uneasyfeeling with walking. Mostimportant to him, he wasunable to bowl in the fourmonths between his injury andthis evaluation.

ASSESSMENTThe patient presented with

significant left gastroc (calf)atrophy and moderate edemaaround the Achilles insertion.His pain increased significantlyto 6/10 with a functional squat,and he walked with a limp onhis left side.

Range of motion (ROM)of the left ankle was limited tominus-10 degrees of dorsiflex-ion, 23 degrees of plantarflex-ion, 4 degrees of inversion, and5 degrees of eversion. Strengthassessment revealed significantlimitations on the left com-pared with the right, whichtested strong. He was unable to

hold resistance in dorsiflexion,plantarflexion and tibialis pos-terior and minimal resistancein inversion and eversion.

TREATMENTTreatment consisted of soft

tissue massage to the gastroc,passive ROM and mobilizationto the ankle, progressivestrengthening, and propriocep-tive training. The patient’s flex-ibility and ROM advanced in

the first two weeks, but he con-tinued to have moderate painand edema and was unable toraise his left heel.

Kinesiology tape wasintroduced into treatment inthe third week. The applicationwas used to inhibit the gastrocsoleus complex to allow foradditional healing of the ten-don. The patient was placedprone in a dorsiflexed positionwith the tape anchored on theheel with no tension. The tapewas applied in a Y-shaped stripat 25 to 50 percent tensionlengthened over the medial andlateral aspects of the muscle,ending with no tension. Withthe tape applied, the patienthad immediate relief withsquatting and with a double-leg heel raise.

The patient continued tohave the tape applied for thenext two weeks. Advancedstrengthening, functional exercise, and proprioceptiveand return-to-sport activitieswere introduced without pain.

OUTCOMEUpon discharge, the

patient’s range of motion wasequal to the opposite side andstrength on the left was func-tional. He completed single-legheel raises without difficulty.He scored a 94 percent on theFoot Ankle Ability Measureand was able to return to bowling without pain.

2

Continued from cover story

3

NFL teams, two-thirds ofMajor League Baseball clubsand one-third of NBA teams,the majority of its applicationsare non-athletic.

Kinesio Tape claims to affectfour main physiological systems:

• Skin• Circulatory/lymphatic • Fascia (tissue that surroundsmuscles, nerves and bones)

• Musculoskeletal

The application of the tape initially affects the skin.Reducing pressure on the painreceptors and reducing swellingallows for increased movementof extremities. This then influ-ences the many layers of deepfascia, muscle activation andmovement, and joint position.

The association boasts of the tape’s “effectiveness in hundreds of clinical conditions”with more than 1,200 recognizedapplications. More than 150,000medical practitioners worldwideuse it, including physical thera-pists, occupational therapists,athletic trainers, chiropractors,physicians and nurses.

USES IN PHYSICAL THERAPYIs kinesiology tape really

effective?Medical professionals have

their doubts given the limitedresearch conducted to date. ALos Angeles Times story suggest-ed that the tapes “could just bestretchy, colorful placebos.”

Citing a lack of clinical evidence, Dr. George Theodore,Massachusetts General Hospitalsurgeon and team physician forthe Boston Red Sox, told theWall Street Journal that thetape “is not harmful and overthe short term it can have abeneficial effect" on pain and

range of motion. He added thatit is not clear whether the effectis psychological.

It could be that athletesjust think the tape is helping,giving them confidence thatcould improve performance.

Tape could be used to assista muscle during the four to sixweeks it takes physiologically tostrengthen it. Published researchaside, physical therapists andathletic trainers have found thatkinesiology taping assists withreducing pain; supports injuredjoints, ligaments or muscles;and improves posture andbody awareness.

Other benefits of this tapingmethod are that it is latex freeand breathable; requires no pre-tape or pre-wrap, allowing foraffect at the skin level; is elastic,allowing for full movement;offers multiple days of weartime; and enhances circulation,thus decreasing edema andpromoting healing.

A clinician can help deter-mine whether kinesiology tapingis right for your plan of care.

REFERENCESChris Woolston, “The Healthy Skeptic:the sticky issue of kinesiology tapes,”Los Angeles Times, April 4, 2011,accessed online Dec. 3, 2013.“Injured Olympians turn to tape: thesticky science of Kinesio,” ABC NewsRadio, accessed online Dec. 3, 2013.Kinesio Taping Association International,www.kinesiotaping.com.Laura Johannes, “Putting on the stripesto ease pain,” The Wall Street Journal,updated April 27, 2010, accessedonline Dec. 3, 2013.“Taping America’s athletes,”Albuquerque Journal, July 25, 2012,accessed online Dec. 3, 2013. Tim Layden, “Gold brings Vonn fulfill-ment at last,” SI.com, Feb. 17, 2010,accessed online Dec. 3, 2013.

CASE STUDY Q&A

Kinesiology Taping

The tape was applied in a Y-shaped strip to allow for healing of the injured tendon.

Taping Approach for Injured BowlerBy Jeremy Ansbach

WHAT ARE KINESIO® TAPE ANDTHE KINESIO TAPING® METHOD?

Founded in 1979 by KenzoKase, a Japanese chiropractor,this is a therapeutic treatmentmethod in which a clinician usesa special type of elastic tape thatmimics the characteristics ofskin. The tape has an elasticity of40 to 60 percent of resting lengthand thickness and weight similarto skin. Because the tape has nomedicinal properties and is latexfree, patients are less susceptibleto adverse reactions and allergies.

IS THIS TAPING ONLY FOR OLYMPIANS AND OTHER ATHLETES?

Kinesiology tape, as it isknown generically, became pop-ular at the 2012 SummerOlympics and can be seen onany number of Major LeagueBaseball and NFL players.However, the majority of patients

are non-athletes with varyingdiagnoses. Because the tapingaffects the circulatory, nervousand fascial (controls connectivetissue) systems, the treatmentpossibilities are vast. It also canaffect muscles, joints and liga-ments, similar to other athleticand therapeutic tapes on themarket. Kinesio Tape claimsthat approximately 85 percentof applications are non-athletic.

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROMKINESIOLOGY TAPING?

Many treatment techniqueshave been developed, not onlyfor athletes but also otherorthopedic populations; pregnancy and post-partumdiagnosis; and pediatric, geriatric, neuromuscular andneurological conditions.

HOW DOES IT WORK?Kinesiology tape is rolled

with an elastic stretch built in.When applied to the skin, itgently recoils to slightly lift theskin. This forms tiny spaces thatallow for improved circulationand decreased edema (swelling).

HOW QUICKLY DOES THE TAPE WORK?

Immediately if it is appliedcorrectly, including reducedpain, improved range of motion,greater muscle control. Swellingtypically lessens within a fewhours. These improvementscan last from three to five daysor as long as the tape remainson the skin depending on theindividual’s activity level.

WITH THE TAPE APPLIED, THE PATIENT HAD IMMEDIATE RELIEF WITH SQUATTING

AND WITH A DOUBLE-LEG HEEL RAISE.

86538 12/18/13 5:04 AM Page 3

By Ryan Bechtel and Jessica Heath

PATIENT HISTORYA 70-year-old male was

referred to physical therapywith a partial tear of his leftAchilles tendon. He had spentapproximately two months in awalking boot but recently wasdischarged by his doctor towalk as tolerated without theboot. He presented to physicaltherapy with complaints ofpain and edema (swelling).

The initial injury occurredwhile he was working part timeas a cook, when a swingingdoor hit him in the back of hisleg. His primary complaint waspain with sustained standingand squatting, and an uneasyfeeling with walking. Mostimportant to him, he wasunable to bowl in the fourmonths between his injury andthis evaluation.

ASSESSMENTThe patient presented with

significant left gastroc (calf)atrophy and moderate edemaaround the Achilles insertion.His pain increased significantlyto 6/10 with a functional squat,and he walked with a limp onhis left side.

Range of motion (ROM)of the left ankle was limited tominus-10 degrees of dorsiflex-ion, 23 degrees of plantarflex-ion, 4 degrees of inversion, and5 degrees of eversion. Strengthassessment revealed significantlimitations on the left com-pared with the right, whichtested strong. He was unable to

hold resistance in dorsiflexion,plantarflexion and tibialis pos-terior and minimal resistancein inversion and eversion.

TREATMENTTreatment consisted of soft

tissue massage to the gastroc,passive ROM and mobilizationto the ankle, progressivestrengthening, and propriocep-tive training. The patient’s flex-ibility and ROM advanced in

the first two weeks, but he con-tinued to have moderate painand edema and was unable toraise his left heel.

Kinesiology tape wasintroduced into treatment inthe third week. The applicationwas used to inhibit the gastrocsoleus complex to allow foradditional healing of the ten-don. The patient was placedprone in a dorsiflexed positionwith the tape anchored on theheel with no tension. The tapewas applied in a Y-shaped stripat 25 to 50 percent tensionlengthened over the medial andlateral aspects of the muscle,ending with no tension. Withthe tape applied, the patienthad immediate relief withsquatting and with a double-leg heel raise.

The patient continued tohave the tape applied for thenext two weeks. Advancedstrengthening, functional exercise, and proprioceptiveand return-to-sport activitieswere introduced without pain.

OUTCOMEUpon discharge, the

patient’s range of motion wasequal to the opposite side andstrength on the left was func-tional. He completed single-legheel raises without difficulty.He scored a 94 percent on theFoot Ankle Ability Measureand was able to return to bowling without pain.

2

Continued from cover story

3

NFL teams, two-thirds ofMajor League Baseball clubsand one-third of NBA teams,the majority of its applicationsare non-athletic.

Kinesio Tape claims to affectfour main physiological systems:

• Skin• Circulatory/lymphatic • Fascia (tissue that surroundsmuscles, nerves and bones)

• Musculoskeletal

The application of the tape initially affects the skin.Reducing pressure on the painreceptors and reducing swellingallows for increased movementof extremities. This then influ-ences the many layers of deepfascia, muscle activation andmovement, and joint position.

The association boasts of the tape’s “effectiveness in hundreds of clinical conditions”with more than 1,200 recognizedapplications. More than 150,000medical practitioners worldwideuse it, including physical thera-pists, occupational therapists,athletic trainers, chiropractors,physicians and nurses.

USES IN PHYSICAL THERAPYIs kinesiology tape really

effective?Medical professionals have

their doubts given the limitedresearch conducted to date. ALos Angeles Times story suggest-ed that the tapes “could just bestretchy, colorful placebos.”

Citing a lack of clinical evidence, Dr. George Theodore,Massachusetts General Hospitalsurgeon and team physician forthe Boston Red Sox, told theWall Street Journal that thetape “is not harmful and overthe short term it can have abeneficial effect" on pain and

range of motion. He added thatit is not clear whether the effectis psychological.

It could be that athletesjust think the tape is helping,giving them confidence thatcould improve performance.

Tape could be used to assista muscle during the four to sixweeks it takes physiologically tostrengthen it. Published researchaside, physical therapists andathletic trainers have found thatkinesiology taping assists withreducing pain; supports injuredjoints, ligaments or muscles;and improves posture andbody awareness.

Other benefits of this tapingmethod are that it is latex freeand breathable; requires no pre-tape or pre-wrap, allowing foraffect at the skin level; is elastic,allowing for full movement;offers multiple days of weartime; and enhances circulation,thus decreasing edema andpromoting healing.

A clinician can help deter-mine whether kinesiology tapingis right for your plan of care.

REFERENCESChris Woolston, “The Healthy Skeptic:the sticky issue of kinesiology tapes,”Los Angeles Times, April 4, 2011,accessed online Dec. 3, 2013.“Injured Olympians turn to tape: thesticky science of Kinesio,” ABC NewsRadio, accessed online Dec. 3, 2013.Kinesio Taping Association International,www.kinesiotaping.com.Laura Johannes, “Putting on the stripesto ease pain,” The Wall Street Journal,updated April 27, 2010, accessedonline Dec. 3, 2013.“Taping America’s athletes,”Albuquerque Journal, July 25, 2012,accessed online Dec. 3, 2013. Tim Layden, “Gold brings Vonn fulfill-ment at last,” SI.com, Feb. 17, 2010,accessed online Dec. 3, 2013.

CASE STUDY Q&A

Kinesiology Taping

The tape was applied in a Y-shaped strip to allow for healing of the injured tendon.

Taping Approach for Injured BowlerBy Jeremy Ansbach

WHAT ARE KINESIO® TAPE ANDTHE KINESIO TAPING® METHOD?

Founded in 1979 by KenzoKase, a Japanese chiropractor,this is a therapeutic treatmentmethod in which a clinician usesa special type of elastic tape thatmimics the characteristics ofskin. The tape has an elasticity of40 to 60 percent of resting lengthand thickness and weight similarto skin. Because the tape has nomedicinal properties and is latexfree, patients are less susceptibleto adverse reactions and allergies.

IS THIS TAPING ONLY FOR OLYMPIANS AND OTHER ATHLETES?

Kinesiology tape, as it isknown generically, became pop-ular at the 2012 SummerOlympics and can be seen onany number of Major LeagueBaseball and NFL players.However, the majority of patients

are non-athletes with varyingdiagnoses. Because the tapingaffects the circulatory, nervousand fascial (controls connectivetissue) systems, the treatmentpossibilities are vast. It also canaffect muscles, joints and liga-ments, similar to other athleticand therapeutic tapes on themarket. Kinesio Tape claimsthat approximately 85 percentof applications are non-athletic.

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROMKINESIOLOGY TAPING?

Many treatment techniqueshave been developed, not onlyfor athletes but also otherorthopedic populations; pregnancy and post-partumdiagnosis; and pediatric, geriatric, neuromuscular andneurological conditions.

HOW DOES IT WORK?Kinesiology tape is rolled

with an elastic stretch built in.When applied to the skin, itgently recoils to slightly lift theskin. This forms tiny spaces thatallow for improved circulationand decreased edema (swelling).

HOW QUICKLY DOES THE TAPE WORK?

Immediately if it is appliedcorrectly, including reducedpain, improved range of motion,greater muscle control. Swellingtypically lessens within a fewhours. These improvementscan last from three to five daysor as long as the tape remainson the skin depending on theindividual’s activity level.

WITH THE TAPE APPLIED, THE PATIENT HAD IMMEDIATE RELIEF WITH SQUATTING

AND WITH A DOUBLE-LEG HEEL RAISE.

86538 12/18/13 5:04 AM Page 3

By Jessica Heath and Neal Goulet

Developed by a Japanesechiropractor more than 30 yearsago, kinesiology tape had itscoming out party at the 2008Summer Olympics.

It was everywhere at the2012 Games, too, colorful stripsvisible on the exposed skin of beach volleyball players,rowers, divers.

When the world gathersfor the 2014 Winter Games inRussia, it’s certain that the tapewill be present if less conspicu-ous under cold-weather garb.

After all, in 2010, Americanskier Lindsey Vonn reportedlywore strips of kinesiology tapeon her shin prior to winningthe downhill, and the goldmedal-winning U.S. bobsledteam known as “Night Train”was sponsored by one of thetape manufacturers.

But the tape – also knowngenerically as elastic therapeutictape and by brand names suchas Kinesio®, RockTape® andPerformTex® – is not just usedon world-class athletes. TheOlympic exposure got the public into the game, too.

“It helped that the conduitwas a tall and toned blonde with… an Olympic gold medal:American beach volleyball playerKerri Walsh, who competed inBeijing [2008] with an eye-catch-ing black swatch of Kinesio tapeon her shoulder,” wrote the

Albuquerque Journal newspaper.Walsh was at it again in

2012, as was German rivalKatrin Holtwick, strips of tapeflowing down her abdomen ina pattern that resembled noth-ing so much as a teal squid.

RELIEVING PAINIt was a perhaps uninten-

tional fashion statement, but thereal purpose behind kinesiologytape is to improve health byrelieving pain in muscles andjoints. Many people – elite ath-letes, everyday patients andmedical professionals alike –swear by the tape’s effectiveness.

Dr. Jennifer Solomon, teamphysician for the U.S. TennisAssociation, told ABC News thatathletes think kinesiology tapeimproves their performance.

"But there's no solid scientific evidence that this

tape helps," Solomon said.Physical therapists work

with other types of tape: thetraditional white athletic tape,commonly found in trainingrooms, and adhesive sports tapebrands such as Leukotape® thathelps to support joints, tendonsand ligaments and improve bodyposture and body awareness.Each of these works on the basisof restricting movement, in sharpcontrast to kinesiology tape.

The term “kinesio” derivesfrom the word kinesiology: the scientific study of humanmovement. Dr. Kenzo Kase wasa Chicago-trained chiropractorand acupuncturist working in his native Japan when hedeveloped a tape that wouldmimic the texture and elasticityof human skin so as not torestrict movement.

The original Kinesio-brandtape is made of cotton fiber withan acrylic adhesive. Its manufac-turer touts its cost-effectivenessas it can be worn for three to fivedays per treatment. Consumersmay purchase the tape onlinein rolls or in pre-cut pieces,although there is a method toapplying it that should be leftto trained professionals.

While some of the tapingpatterns found on Olympicathletes suggest a randomness,the Kinesio Taping Association

has trained more than 50,000people worldwide in the KinesioTaping® Method that Kasedeveloped. Becoming a CertifiedKinesio Taping Practitioner®requires the successful comple-tion of three eight-hour coursesand a written exam.

While Kinesio Tape citesits use by more than half of all

Continued on Page 2

4

RESEARCH ABSTRACT

Taping’s Effect on Baseball Shoulder Pain

Tale of the TapeBy Jessica Heath

INTRODUCTIONSubacromial impingement

syndrome is one of the mostcommon causes of shoulder painseen by orthopedic physicians. Italso is one of the most frequentcauses of pain in “overhead ath-letes,” such as baseball players, whoare required to make repetitivemotions over their heads.

Many factors can contributeto shoulder pain, includinginstability of the glenohumeraljoint, overuse of the rotator cufftendon, and a decreased roleplayed by the scapular stabiliz-ing muscles. This key group ofmuscles, consisting of the trapez-ius and serratus anterior, providecorresponding movement withthe humerus to clear the rotatorcuff and prevent impingement.

For this reason, rehabilita-tion for many patients with sub-acromial impingement has cen-tered on scapular control. Onemethod to facilitate control ofthe scapula is taping. The pur-pose of this study was to identifythe effects of elastic therapeutictaping on scapular kinematics,muscle strength and electromyo-graphy (EMG) activity in base-ball players with shoulder pain.

METHODSSeventeen amateur base-

ball players with subacromialimpingement syndrome wereused for this study, identifiedwith the help of these tests: (1)

a history of proximal anterioror lateral shoulder pain formore than one week during thepast six months; (2) painful arcwith active shoulder elevation;(3) tenderness to palpation ofrotator cuff tendons; (4) painwith resisted isometric shoul-der abduction; (5) positive“Jobe’s test” (empty can test).

Measurements were taken ofmuscle strength, EMG and scapu-lar motion performed in bothkinesiology tape and placebotape applications. During a scap-tion task (movement of the armoverhead in the scapular plane),muscle strength of the lowertrapezius was measured, EMG

activity was monitored, andscapular motion was evaluated.

RESULTSScapular kinematics: Both

the kinesiology and placebotapings assisted in normalizingthe scapular kinematics.

Scapular muscle activity:Facilitated (increased) muscleactivity was found with kinesi-ology taping on the loweringphase of the scaption task. Acompensatory and negativeeffect of increased upper trapez-ius activation was seen with theplacebo tape. Researchers haveseen this previously and hypoth-esize that it may be the result of

the non-elastic tape forcingsubjects to over-compensate.

Scapular strength:Compared with the placebo,the kinesiology taping methodshowed marginal increase in lower trapezius strength,most likely explained by thepositioning of the scapula.

DISCUSSIONBased upon the results of

this study, kinesiology tapingmay assist in the rehabilitationof patients with subacromialimpingement disorders.However, the benefit is specificto patients with limited lowertrapezius activity.

CENTERS IN:CORPORATE OFFICE

8205 PRESIDENTS DRIVEHUMMELSTOWN, PA 17036 717-220-2100www.drayerpt.com

ALABAMAGEORGIAKENTUCKYMARYLAND

MISSISSIPPINEW JERSEYNEW YORKNORTH CAROLINAOHIO

PENNSYLVANIASOUTH CAROLINATENNESSEEVIRGINIAWEST VIRGINIA

Subacromial impingement syndrome is common in baseball players, who make repetitive motionsover their heads.

Kinesiology tape was designed to mimic the texture and elasticityof human skin so as not to restrict movement.

Scan this code to watch a kinesiology taping video.

Volume 10, Issue 1

86538 12/18/13 5:04 AM Page 1