The effects of taping on scapular kinematics and muscle performance in baseball players with shoulder impingement syndrome

Hsu, Yin-Hsin; Chen, Wen-Yin; Lin, Hsiu-Chen; Wang, Wendy T.J.; Shih, Yi-Fen

doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2008.11.003

« Previous Next »Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology
Volume 19, Issue 6 , Pages 1092-1099, December 2009

The effects of taping on scapular kinematics and muscle performance in baseball players with shoulder impingement syndrome

Yin-Hsin Hsu
- Department of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
Wen-Yin Chen
- Department of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Research and Education, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Wen-Yin Chen and Hsiu-Chen Lin equally contributed to this work.
Hsiu-Chen Lin
- Department of Physical Therapy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Wen-Yin Chen and Hsiu-Chen Lin equally contributed to this work.
Wendy T.J. Wang
- Department of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Research and Education, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Yi-Fen Shih
- Department of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Research and Education, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Corresponding author. Address: Department of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang-Ming University, 155, Section 2, Li-Nong Street, Shih-Pai, Taipei 112, Taiwan. Tel.: +886 2 28267340; fax: +886 2 28201841.

Received 29 May 2007; received in revised form 4 November 2008; accepted 5 November 2008. published online 15 January 2009.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the effect of elastic taping on kinematics, muscle activity and strength of the scapular region in baseball players with shoulder impingement.

Scope

Seventeen baseball players with shoulder impingement were recruited from three amateur baseball teams. All subjects received both the elastic taping (Kinesio Tex^TM) and the placebo taping (3M Micropore tape) over the lower trapezius muscle. We measured the 3-dimensional scapular motion, electromyographic (EMG) activities of the upper and lower trapezius, and the serratus anterior muscles during arm elevation. Strength of the lower trapezius was tested prior to and after each taping application. The results of the analyses of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures showed that the elastic taping significantly increased the scapular posterior tilt at 30° and 60° during arm raising and increased the lower trapezius muscle activity in the 60–30° arm lowering phase (p<0.05) in comparison to the placebo taping.

Conclusions

The elastic taping resulted in positive changes in scapular motion and muscle performance. The results supported its use as a treatment aid in managing shoulder impingement problems.

Keywords: Shoulder impingement syndrome, Kinematics, Therapeutic taping, Electromyography