Comparison of the Acute Effects of Kinesio Taping and Sleeper Stretching on the Shoulder Rotation Range of Motion, Manual Muscle Strength, and Sub-Acromial Space in Pitchers with Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit.

Chi-Ling Lo,Ya-Hsin Hsueh,Chun-Hou Wang,Hsiao-Yun Chang

doi:10.3390/medicina57020102

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Sleeper stretching (SS) can improve the shoulder’s range of motion (ROM) for pitchers with glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD). However, no evidence has proven the effect of Kinesio taping (KT) on shoulder strength and ROM. Therefore, this study compared the effects of SS and KT on shoulder rotation ROM, muscle strength, and sub-acromial distance in pitchers with GIRD. Materials and Methods: Thirty-one pitchers with GIRD were allocated into control, KT, and SS groups. Shoulder rotation ROM, muscle strength, and sub-acromial space were measured before and after treatment with SS or KT. Results: The results revealed that KT and SS significantly enhanced shoulder rotation ROM in pitchers with GIRD. External rotator strength significantly increased following KT but significantly decreased after SS. KT and SS exerted no effects on the sub-acromial space. Conclusions: KT and SS improve shoulder rotation ROM in pitchers with GIRD. In addition, KT improves shoulder external rotator strength, and SS reduces it.

Highlights

Shoulder injuries are extremely common injuries in baseball, with an average of2.14–2.27 injuries per 1000 h of exercise [1]
This study recruited 31 participants, each of the 31 participants was randomly asEach participant lay on the side of the dominant shoulder, the shoulders abducted to signed to the Kinesio taping (KT) (N = 11), Sleeper stretching (SS) (N = 10), or control group (N = 10)
Each participant was required to grab the wrist of his or among the three groups

Summary

Introduction

Shoulder injuries are extremely common injuries in baseball, with an average of2.14–2.27 injuries per 1000 h of exercise [1]. In terms of insufficient shoulder mobility, repeated pitching increases the shoulder’s external rotation and reduces the range of internal rotation, leading to a glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD) [4]. In terms of insufficient muscle strength around the shoulder, imbalance in the strength of rotator muscles was noted in previous studies, especially weakness of the shoulder’s external rotators. This causes an increased incidence of throwing injuries among pitchers. This study compared the effects of SS and KT on shoulder rotation ROM, muscle strength, and sub-acromial distance in pitchers with GIRD. Shoulder rotation ROM, muscle strength, and sub-acromial space were measured before and after treatment with SS or KT. Conclusions: KT and SS improve shoulder rotation ROM in pitchers with

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion