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Published on: August 2, 2024
Effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Combined With Kinesio Taping on Shoulder Function in Patients With
Kun Liu1, Lulu Yin2, Yanhong Ma1
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China.
Objective:
To evaluate the main effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and Kinesio taping (KT) and their interaction on shoulder function and symptoms in adults with long-head biceps tendinopathy.
Design:
Factorial randomized controlled trial.
Setting:
Hospital outpatient rehabilitation department.
Participants:
A total of 144 adults (18-65y) with clinically diagnosed long-head biceps tendinopathy were randomly allocated to ESWT+KT, sham ESWT+KT, ESWT+sham KT, or double-sham groups. Thirteen participants (9.0%) were lost to follow-up; analyses followed intention-to-treat principle.
Interventions:
All participants received a standardized 4-week rehabilitation program including stretching, strengthening, and manual therapy. ESWT or sham ESWT was delivered once weekly for 4 sessions (2000 pulses, 8 Hz, 0.12-0.25 mJ/mm²). KT or sham taping (no tension) was applied using standardized procedures.
Main Outcome Measures:
The primary outcome was the Constant-Murley Score. Secondary outcomes included pain intensity on the Numerical Rating Scale during rest, activity, and sleep; pressure pain threshold; tissue hardness; and Global Rating of Change. Outcomes were measured at baseline, immediately after the intervention (week 4), and at the 2-week follow-up (week 6).
Results:
In the factorial mixed model, all outcomes improved over time (P<.001). For Constant-Murley Score, ESWT showed a significant main effect posttreatment (mean difference, 15.90; 95% confidence interval, 12.70∼19.10) and at follow-up (16.15; 13.25∼19.05), whereas KT showed no significant main effect posttreatment (2.40; -1.72 to 6.52) or at follow-up (1.95; -1.97 to 5.87). There was no evidence of an ESWT × KT interaction for Constant-Murley Score posttreatment (4.80; -1.55 to 11.15) or at follow-up (3.70; -2.07 to 9.47). For secondary outcomes, ESWT reduced pain across rest, activity, and sleep domains; KT effects were smaller, and interaction effects were outcome-dependent, with evidence consistent with additional benefit for sleep pain and patient-perceived recovery.
Conclusion:
In the short term, ESWT improved shoulder function and reduced pain in adults with long-head biceps tendinopathy. KT provided limited additional benefit for overall function but may improve selected pain domains and perceived recovery.
