title: Effect of kinesiology taping on hemiplegic shoulder pain and functional outcomes in subacute stroke patients: a randomized controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hemiplegic shoulder pain (HSP) impedes functional motor recovery of the affected limbs and negatively affects quality of life and daily activities. Kinesiology taping (KT) may provide improvement in hemiplegic shoulder pain and upper extremity function after an acute stroke.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the impact of KT on HSP, upper extremity functional outcomes, and the prevention of shoulder soft tissue injury in subacute stroke patients with hemiplegic shoulders during rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, double-blind controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rehabilitation unit at a single medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four subacute stroke patients with hemiplegia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four subacute stroke patients with hemiplegia participated in this study and were randomly allocated to the control group (sham KT) or experimental group (therapeutic KT). In the experimental group, a 3-week therapeutic KT with conventional inpatient rehabilitation was applied for 5 days per week. In the control group, the patients received a 3-week sham KT with conventional inpatient rehabilitation for 5 days per week. Shoulder subluxation, spasticity, hemiplegic shoulder pain, the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), modified Barthel Index (MI), Stroke-Specific Quality of Life (SSQOL) scale, and shoulder sonography were measured before and after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pain-free flexion was significantly increased in hemiplegic shoulders after therapeutic KT. From 16 (70%) to 20 (87%) patients in the control and from 12 (57%) to 12 (57%) in the experimental groups had HSP after intervention, and a significant difference in the occurrence of HSP was found between these groups after treatment (P<0.05). Significant improvements (P<0.05) were noted in the FMA-UE, modified BI, and SSQOL scales after treatment in both groups. No significant differences between the groups were seen on shoulder sonography (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therapeutic KT may limit the development of HSP and improve shoulder flexion in subacute stroke patients with flaccid shoulders during inpatient rehabilitation. For subacute stroke patients with hemiplegia, therapeutic KT may not provide improvements in the upper extremity function, daily activity, and quality of life over sham KT during conventional inpatient rehabilitation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Kinesiology taping may provide positive effects on shoulder flexion and decrease the occurrence of HSP in subacute stroke patients with hemiplegic shoulders during conventional inpatient rehabilitation.
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan - hyuchi@gmail.com.
authors: Yu C
authors: YC
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors: Chau P
authors: CP
authors: Leong
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors: Lin Y
authors: LY
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors: Yu C
authors: YC
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors: Chien Y
authors: CY
authors: Chuang
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors: Yi J
authors: YJ
authors: Hsin
mesh_terms: D055052:Athletic Tape; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography