title: Effects of scapular taping on the activity onset of scapular muscles and the scapular kinematics in volleyball players with rotator cuff tendinopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of scapular taping on the activity onset of scapular muscles and the scapular kinematics during arm elevation in volleyball players with rotator cuff (RC) tendinopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized placebo-controlled repeated measures METHODS: Twenty-six male volleyball players with RC tendinopathy (mean age=23.6±3.3years) participated in the study. Electromyography (EMG) activity onset of upper trapezius (UT), middle trapezius (MT), lower trapezius (LT) and serratus anterior (SA) and the three-dimensional scapular kinematics quantified by using an acromial marker cluster method were compared with three scapular taping protocols, namely, no taping, therapeutic taping, and placebo taping.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MT, LT and SA activated significantly earlier in both therapeutic taping (all p<0.005) and placebo taping conditions than no taping conditions (all p<0.002). There was a small increase in the scapular upward rotation when therapeutic taping and no taping conditions were compared (p=0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Scapular taping may enhance the neuromotor control of the scapular muscles. Whether it provides adequate support for normal scapular kinematics during arm movement in athletes with RC tendinopathy await for further studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Electronic address: annieleonght@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hio Teng
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
authors.forename: Gabriel Yin-Fat
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
authors.forename: Siu Ngor
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D055052:Athletic Tape; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012540:Scapula / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054798:Volleyball / Q000293:injuries* / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Activity onset; Overhead athletes; Rotator cuff tendinopathy; Scapular kinematics; Scapular muscles