Short-Term Effectiveness of Precut Kinesiology Tape Versus an NSAID as Adjuvant Treatment to Exercise for Subacromial Impingement: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the short-term effectiveness of precut kinesiology tape (PCT) to a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) as adjuvant treatment to exercise physiotherapy in improving pain and function in patients with shoulder impingement.


METHODS
Randomized, controlled assessor-blind parallel-design trial with 3 groups.


METHODS
Academic-community hospital.


METHODS
One hundred patients (mean age: 48 ± 12.3, 61 men, 39 women) with a diagnosis of subacromial impingement (SAI) syndrome were randomized to a treatment group from October 2009 to June 2012. Eighty-one patients completed the study.


METHODS
Patients were randomized to one of the 3 treatment groups: PCT and Exercise (n = 33), NSAID and Exercise (n = 29), or Exercise only (n = 38) for a 4 session 2-week intervention with a registered physiotherapist.


METHODS
Numeric pain rating scales for pain at rest and pain with arm elevation, the Simple Shoulder Test (SST), and the Constant Score were assessed pretreatment and post-treatment.


RESULTS
A statistically significant reduction in pain at rest and pain with arm elevation, as well as improvement in SST and Constant Score were observed in all 3 treatment groups, with minimal clinically important differences shown on pain with elevation and SST scores. Between-group differences on all outcome measures were not statistically significant or clinically meaningful.


CONCLUSIONS
The improvements in pain and function observed with an NSAID or PCT as adjuvant treatments were no greater than with rehabilitation exercise alone. If adjuvant treatment is desired, PCT seems to be better tolerated than an NSAID, although the difference did not reach significance.


CONCLUSIONS
The routine addition of adjuvant treatment is not supported by the results of this study. As adjuvant therapy, PCT seems to be better tolerated than an NSAID. If desired, clinicians may consider incorporating PCT along with an exercise component in the conservative treatment of SAI syndrome.
*Fluid Motion Physiotherapy, Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada; and †Department of Surgery, St. Joseph's Health Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Moira
M
Devereaux
Kinny Quan
KQ
Velanoski
Amanda
A
Pennings
Amr
A
Elmaraghy
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055052:Athletic Tape / Q000009:adverse effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009288:Naproxen / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019534:Shoulder Impingement Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D009288:Naproxen