Effects of 3 Different Elastic Therapeutic Taping Methods on the Subacromial Joint Space

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 3 different elastic therapeutic taping methods on the subacromial joint space in healthy adults.

Pre-/post-test laboratory study method was used in this study. Forty-eight healthy adults with no prior history of shoulder injury or surgery and no history of dominant shoulder pain in the past 6 months were enrolled in the study. Participants were placed into 3 groups (8 males and 8 females per group) on the basis of a consecutively assigned allocation design. A baseline measurement of the acromiohumeral distance (AHD) was taken by using diagnostic ultrasonography for every participant. On the basis of group assignment, participants were then taped according to the Kinesio Tape (Kinesio Tex Classic Tape) guidelines in one of 3 conditions: (1) taping of the supraspinatus from insertion to origin; (2) taping of the anterior and posterior deltoids from insertion to origin; and (3) a combination of both techniques. After a 5-minute wait period, the AHD was remeasured with the tape intervention in place, with each participant serving as his or her own control.

Data analysis showed a statistically significant increase in AHD when using the taping technique over the anterior and posterior deltoids (Condition 2). The subacromial space increased in both males and females when the supraspinatus was taped from insertion to origin (Condition 1), but not at a statistically significant level. Condition 3, in which both taping techniques were used simultaneously, did not show an increase at a statistically significant level.

The application of the Kinesio Tape from insertion to muscle origin of the supraspinatus or the anterior and posterior deltoid increased the subacromial joint space.