Rigid and Elastic taping changes scapular kinematics and pain in subjects with shoulder impingement syndrome; an experimental study.

Rigid and Elastic scapular taping is used in physical rehabilitation of shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS). It is believed to reduce pain and normalise scapular movement patterns. However, there is insufficient evidence to support its use. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of Rigid and Elastic taping techniques on the scapular kinematics and pain in patients with SIS. Eleven patients with SIS participated in the study. They performed elevation and lowering of the arm in the scapular and sagittal planes under three conditions: Baseline, Rigid taping and Elastic taping. The movements of the thorax, humerus and scapula were tracked. Scapular displacements and scapulothoracic joint rotations were calculated. Subjects used a visual analogue scale to rate the intensity of pain at rest and during movements in both planes. Both taping techniques externally rotated the scapula in sagittal plane movements (p<0.05) and resulted in reduced pain. In the scapular plane, Elastic taping increased the scapular retraction (p<0.05) and posterior displacement (p<0.01), but neither of the taping techniques had an effect on pain in this plane. In conclusion, both taping techniques had an effect on scapular kinematics and pain in movements occurring in the sagittal plane. Elastic taping also affected scapular kinematics in scapular plane movements, but without the concomitant decrease in pain.