title: Elastic Tape Improved Shoulder Joint Position Sense in Chronic Hemiparetic Subjects: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Crossover Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Elastic tape has been widely used in clinical practice in order to improve upper limb (UL) sensibility. However, there is little evidence that supports this type of intervention in stroke patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To verify the effect of elastic tape, applied to the paretic shoulder, on joint position sense (JPS) during abduction and flexion in subjects with chronic hemiparesis compared to sham tape (non-elastic tape). Furthermore, to verify if this potential effect is correlated to shoulder subluxation measurements and sensorimotor impairment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A crossover and sham-controlled study was conducted with post-stroke patients who were randomly allocated into two groups: 1) those who received Sham Tape (ST) first and after one month they received Elastic Tape (ET); 2) those who received Elastic Tape (ET) first and after one month they received Sham Tape (ST). The JPS was evaluated using a dynamometer. The absolute error for shoulder abduction and flexion at 30° and 60° was calculated. Sensorimotor impairment was determined by Fugl-Meyer, and shoulder subluxation was measured using a caliper.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen hemiparetic subjects (average time since stroke 75.23 months) participated in the study. At baseline (before interventions), the groups were not different for abduction at 30° (p = 0.805; p = 0.951), and 60° (p = 0.509; p = 0.799), or flexion at 30° (p = 0.872; p = 0.897) and 60° (p = 0.853; p = 0.970). For the ET group, differences between pre and post-elastic tape for abduction at 30° (p<0.010) and 60° (p<0.010), and flexion at 30° p<0.010) and 60° (p<0.010) were observed. For the ST group, differences were also observed between pre and post-elastic tape for abduction at 30° (p<0.010) and 60° (p<0.010), and flexion at 30° (p<0.010,) and 60° (p<0.010). Potential effects were only correlated with shoulder subluxation during abduction at 30° (p = 0.001, r = -0.92) and 60° (p = 0.020, r = -0.75).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elastic tape improved shoulder JPS of subjects with chronic hemiparesis regardless of the level of UL sensorimotor impairment. However, this improvement was influenced by the subluxation degree at abduction.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurological Physiotherapy Research, Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriela Lopes Dos
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6230-999X
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurological Physiotherapy Research, Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, Brazil.
authors.forename: Matheus Bragança
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.|Clinical Motion Analysis Laboratory (CERM), University Hospital Pellenberg, Pellenberg, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kaat
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Desloovere
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurological Physiotherapy Research, Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago Luiz
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Russo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010291:Paresis / Q000628:therapy*; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012782:Shoulder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D053832:Surgical Tape