title: Clinical effectiveness of kinesiological taping on pain and pain-free shoulder range of motion in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome: a randomized, double blinded, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kinesiological taping (KT) is commonly used to improve symptoms associated with musculoskeletal disorders. However, review of the literature revealed minimal evidence to support the use of KT in treatment of shoulder disorders and controversy exists regarding the effect of KT in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of KT on pain intensity during movement, pain experienced during the night (nocturnal pain), and pain-free shoulder range of motion (ROM) immediately after taping, after three days and after one week, in patients with SIS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, Double blinded, Placebo-controlled design.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 30 patients with SIS participated in this study. Patients were assigned randomly to a control (N = 15) and an experimental group (N = 15).
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients in the experimental group received a standardized therapeutic KT. The standardized, placebo neutral KT was applied for control group. KT was applied two times with a three day interval, remaining on during the 3 day interval. Both groups followed the same procedures. Pain-free active ROM during shoulder abduction, flexion, and elevation in the scapular plane was measured. Visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain intensity during movement or nocturnal pain and was assessed at baseline, immediately after KT, after three days, and one week after KT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The result of repeated measures ANOVA showed a significant change in pain level during movement, nocturnal pain, and pain-free ROM (p = 0.000) after KT in the experimental group. In the ANCOVA, controlling for pre-test scores, change in pain level at movement (p = 0.009) and nocturnal pain (p = 0.04) immediately after KT was significantly greater in the experimental group than in control group. There was no significant difference in ROM measures (p > 0.05) between groups immediately after KT. No significant differences were found between the two groups in the after one week measurements of pain intensity and shoulder ROM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The KT produces an immediate improvement in the pain intensity at movement and nocturnal pain in patients with SIS.
  
  
  METHODS
  1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shakeri
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Roshanak
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Keshavarz
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir Massoud
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Arab
authors.affiliation: Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ismaeil
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ebrahimi
keywords: Kinesiological taping; pain; range of motion; shoulder impingement