Clinical effectiveness of rigid or kinesio taping and manual therapy on pain and function in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to compare the effect of two taping techniques and manual therapy, applied in addition to the conventional physiotherapy program, on pain and function in patient with subacromial impingement syndrome.Methods: A total of 55 patients participated in this study. Patients were divided into four groups; Kinesio taping group, McConnell taping group, manual therapy group, and control group. Conventional physiotherapy (5 days a week for four weeks) was applied to the patients in all groups. The level of pain was assessed by the Visual Analogue Scale, and the functional activity level was assessed by the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand-DASH Questionnaire. The patients were assessed before treatment and after treatment.Results: There was a significant difference in terms of pain severity and functional activity levels after treatment when compared to the pre-treatment period in all groups (p<0.05). When the treatment groups were compared with the control group, a significant difference was observed in terms of pain severity and functional activity levels after treatment when compared to the pre-treatment period (p<0.05). However, when the treatment groups were compared with each other, it was observed that there was no difference in terms of changes in pain severity and functional activity levels after treatment when compared to the pre-treatment period (p>0.05).Conclusions: There was a significantly greater decrease in pain intensity after all three applications than the control group. It was observed that they did not have significant superiorities over one another in terms of pain and functionality parameters.Keywords: Shoulder impingement syndrome, athletic tape, musculoskeletal manipulations