Effect of therapeutic kinesio-taping in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome: A pilot study

Kinesio-taping is widely used in sports rehabilitation for prevention and treatment of sports-related injuries. The role of Kinesio-taping has recently received renewed interest in patients with shoulder problems like shoulder impingement or rotator cuff tendinopathy.This pilot study was undertaken to check the effect of therapeutic kinesio-taping versus placebo kinesio-taping on shoulder pain, acromio-humeral distance (AHD), mobility and disability in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome.8 patients diagnosed with shoulder impingement syndrome were included in the study and they were allocated into the experimental and control group. The patients in experimental group received ultrasound therapy for 8 minutes followed by application of therapeutic kinesio-taping and in control group patients received ultrasound therapy for 8 minutes followed by application of placebo kinesio-taping. Outcome measure were pain intensity by NPRS, shoulder range of motion by goniometry, acromio-humeral distance (AHD) using ultrasonography and functional disability by SPADI assessed at baseline, immediate after taping application and 3 days post intervention. Data analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis H test and p value less than 0.05 consider as significant.Therapeutic kinesio-taping group showed significant change in AHD (p=0.04), pain.(p=0.0001), shoulder range of motion including abduction (p=0.04), internal rotation (p=0.001) and functional disability (0.04), whereas placebo kinesio-taping showed no significant improvement in outcomes. Therapeutic kinesio-taping found to be effective in increasing AHD, range of motion, decreasing pain and functional disability when compare with placebo kinesio-taping. It can be used as adjunct treatment option in patient with shoulder impingement.

Regaining motion among patients with shoulder pathology - are all exercises equal?

Background Little information exists to guide the choice of exercise for regaining shoulder range of motion (ROM). The purpose of this study was to compare the maximal ROM reached, pain and difficulty associated with 4 commonly prescribed exercises. Methods Forty (9 females) patients with various shoulder disorders and a limited flexion ROM performed 4 exercises for regaining shoulder flexion ROM in a randomized order. Exercises included the self-assisted flexion, forward bow, table slide and rope-and-pulley. Participants were videotaped while performing all exercises and the maximal flexion angle reached during each exercise was recorded using Kinovea motion analysis freeware (Kinovea 0.8.15). Pain intensity and the perceived level of difficulty associated with each exercise were also recorded. Results The forward bow and table slide generated significantly greater ROM compared with the self-assisted flexion and rope-and-pulley (P ≤ 0.005). The self-assisted flexion was associated with a greater pain intensity compared with the table slide and rope-and-pulley (P = 0.002) and a greater perceived level of difficulty compared with the table slide (P = 0.006). Conclusions Due to the greater ROM allowed, and similar or even lower level of pain or difficulty, clinicians may wish to initially recommend the forward bow and table slide for regaining shoulder flexion ROM.

Additional effects of Thoracic manipulation on pain, shoulder disability and range of motion in Adhesive Capsulitis

Aim: To determine the additional effects of thoracic manipulation on shoulder pain, shoulder range of motion (ROM) and disability in combination with conventional physical therapy exercises for individuals with adhesive capsulitis. Materials: A parallel, randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted. 32 patients (16 in each group), aged between 40‑60 years from both genders having shoulder pain, clinically diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis (Stage II and III), along with thoracic spine hypo mobility were included. Patients were randomized into conventional physiotherapy group (A) and thoracic manipulation group (B). Clinical trial was continued for two weeks with three sessions per week and a follow up was done at the end of 3rd week. Visual analogue scale (VAS), shoulder range of motion (ROM) and Disabilities of Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score were used for outcomes measurement. Results: Intragroup comparison for shoulder ROM, DASH and VAS scores shows a significant (p value=≤0.001) for both groups. Intergroup comparison for shoulder ROM was improved significantly on post-intervention (p value=≤0.001). While intergroup comparison of baseline to end value for VAS showed insignificant result (p value=0.373). Conclusion: Additional effects of thoracic manipulation to conventional physical therapy underwent a greater improvement regarding shoulder range of motions and disability. Conventional physical therapy exercises and a combination of thoracic manipulation to conventional physical therapy exercises are equally effective for decreasing shoulder pain. Keywords: Adhesive Capsulitis, Pain, Frozen shoulder, Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation

Effect of Mulligan Mobilization with Movement versus Kinesiotaping in Frozen Shoulder

Background: Frozen Shoulder is a painful shoulder condition with insidious onset that was associated with stiffness and loss of motion in the shoulder joint. Mulligan Mobilization with Movement for shoulder joint combines sustained manual application of ‘gliding’ force to a joint, with the aim of repositioning the positional faults with concurrent physiological motion of the joint. Kinesiotaping improves glenohumeral motions and reduces microtrauma and mechanical irritation of soft tissue structures and reorient shoulder movements through arc of improved glenohumeral motion. Objective: To compare effect of Mulligan Mobilization with Movement and Kinesiotaping on pain and active shoulder range of motion using VAS and universal goniometer. Method: 30 subjects were selected as per inclusion and exclusion criteria and were randomly allocated into 2 groups of 15 each. Group A received Mulligan Mobilization with Movement and Group B received Kinesiotaping for shoulder joint. Pre and Post intervention shoulder external rotation, abduction and internal rotation range of motion and VAS scores were analysed. Result: The statistical analysis showed that there is a significant increase in range of motion and significant reduction in pain scores post intervention in both the groups (p<0.0001). However, inter group analysis showed that Group A is much more effective in improving range of motion and reducing pain scores. Conclusion: The present study concluded that Mulligan Mobilization With Movement is a better intervention on Frozen shoulder as it shows greater increase in shoulder range of motion and significant pain reduction when compared to Kinesiotaping technique. Key words: Mulligan Mobilization with Movement (MWM), Kinesiotaping, Frozen shoulder, pain, Range of Motion.

Shoulder Arthrodesis versus Upper Trapezius Transfer for Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injury: A Proportional Meta-Analysis

Shoulder arthrodesis and upper trapezius transfer are two surgical options for secondary shoulder reconstruction for traumatic brachial plexus injury (BPI). There is a lack of comparative evidence to guide the choice for one procedure over the other. The objectives of this study were to compare (1) rates of complications and reoperation and (2) shoulder range of motion and functional outcome scores following shoulder arthrodesis versus upper trapezius transfer for traumatic BPI. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted by a search of four databases of studies assessing shoulder arthrodesis and/or upper trapezius transfer for shoulder reconstruction following adult traumatic BPI. A proportional meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model in anticipation of unobserved heterogeneity. The final meta-analysis included 374 patients from 17 studies, including 232 patients from 11 studies on shoulder arthrodesis and 142 patients from 6 studies on upper trapezius transfer. Shoulder arthrodesis had higher rates of complications and reoperations than upper trapezius transfer for traumatic BPI, but these differences did not reach a statistical significance. Due to the limited sample size, variations in reporting, and study heterogeneity in the published literature, we were not able to draw conclusions regarding shoulder range of motion and functional outcome scores between these two procedures. Shoulder arthrodesis and upper trapezius transfer are both viable options for secondary shoulder reconstruction for traumatic BPI, but with different complications and reoperation profiles. Patients should be counseled on the risk of nonunion and humerus fracture following shoulder arthrodesis.

Relationship Differences in Pre-season Isometric Shoulder Strength, Humeral Torsion and Shoulder Range of Motion in Collegiate Baseball Players (218)

Objectives: Muscle strength, humeral torsion (HT) and shoulder range of motion (ROM) have been linked to throwing performance and injury risk in baseball players. Research suggests that players who demonstrate an isometric shoulder external rotation (ER)/internal rotation (IR) strength ratio of <0.75 are at a higher risk for developing a throwing-related upper extremity injury. While the relationships between HT and shoulder ROM have been examined in the literature, few studies have examined the potential relationships between these variables and isometric shoulder strength. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between isometric shoulder strength, HT and shoulder ROM at the start of each baseball season in a cohort of healthy junior college baseball players. Methods: Ninety-two healthy junior college baseball players (mean age=19.9±0.8 years) were prospectively assessed at the start of 2 consecutive spring seasons. Variables measured included HT, shoulder ROM and isometric shoulder strength. Both the dominant (D) and non-dominant (ND) shoulders of each player were assessed throughout the study. Chi square tests and bivariate Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to examine between group differences and the relationships between variables. Statistical significance was set a priori at α=0.05. Results: 33.7% of junior college players demonstrated a D shoulder ER/IR strength ratio of <0.75 at the start of baseball season. Pitchers and position players demonstrated no significant differences in D shoulder ER/IR strength ratios at the start of the season (P=.40). Additionally, moderate positive relationships were observed between D HT and D IR ROM (r=0.35; P=.001) as well as D horizontal adduction (HA) ROM (r=0.43; P<.001). A moderate relationship was also observed between ND HT and ND IR ROM (r=0.56, P<.001), however ND ER and HA ROM demonstrated weaker relationships respectively (ER: r=-0.27; P=.01; HA: r=0.26; P=.01). Inverse relationships were observed between HT and ER strength in both the D and ND shoulders (D: r=-0.27, P=.01; ND: r=-0.28, P=.007). Internal rotation ROM was also inversely correlated with ER strength (r=-0.29, P=0.005) and ER/IR strength ratios (r=-0.31, P=.003), but only in the D shoulder. No significant correlations were observed between ROM and strength in the ND shoulder. Conclusions: One third of the junior college baseball players in this study began the season with marked deficits in D shoulder strength, irrespective of their position. We then examined the relationships between HT, shoulder ROM and isometric shoulder strength and confirmed the previously established correlation between HT and shoulder ROM. Moreover, there appeared to be inverse relationships between HT and ER strength in both the D and ND shoulders as well as IR ROM and ER strength in the D shoulder. This study emphasizes the importance of pre-season rotator cuff strength training, with an emphasis on improving ER strength, to potentially aid in the prevention of throwing-related upper extremity injuries in collegiate baseball players. Humeral torsion and shoulder ROM may influence isometric shoulder strength, however more research is needed to better understand these relationships in the throwing shoulder.