title: Short term effects of kinesiotaping on acromiohumeral distance in asymptomatic subjects: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The first aim of this study was to investigate whether kinesiotaping (KT) can increase the acromiohumeral distance (AHD) in asymptomatic subjects in the short term. The second aim was to investigate whether the direction of kinesiotaping application influences AHD.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  In recent years, the use of KT has become increasingly popular for a range of musculoskeletal conditions and for sport injuries. To date, we are unaware of any research investigating the effect of kinesiotaping on AHD. Moreover, it is unknown whether the direction of kinesiotaping application for the shoulder is important.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty nine participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: kinesiotaping group 1 (KT1), kinesiotaping group 2 (KT2) and sham kinesiotaping (KT3). AHD ultrasound measurements at 0° and 60° of shoulder elevation were collected at baseline and immediately after kinesiotape application.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed significant improvements in AHD after kinesiotaping, compared with sham taping. The mean difference in AHD between KT1 and KT3 groups was 1.28 mm (95% CI: 0.55, 2.03), and between KT2 and KT3 was 0.98 mm (95% CI: 0.23, 1.74). Comparison of KT1 and KT2 groups, which was performed to identify whether the direction of taping influences the AHD, indicated there were no significant differences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  KT increases AHD in healthy individuals immediately following application, compared with sham kinesiotape. No differences were found with respect to the direction in which KT was applied.
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Department, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain. Electronic address: aluques@uma.es.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luque-Suarez
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Navarro-Ledesma
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Petocz
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hancock
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hush
mesh_terms: D000174:Acromion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D055052:Athletic Tape; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006811:Humerus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Rehabilitation; Shoulder; Shoulder impingement syndrome