Evaluating the effects of two different kinesiology taping techniques on shoulder range of motion and proprioception in patients with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.
Frank Tudini, Max Jordon, David Levine and 3 others
PMID 38836006WHAT IT FOUND
Tape did not improve joint position sense or shoulder elevation in hEDS shoulders.
Tape crossing the joint improved external and internal rotation immediately and at 48 hours.
Key findings
01There were no significant differences in active joint repositioning at any time point for either group, and no significant differences in shoulder elevation through flexion at any time point or between groups.
02The experimental tape group had significant increases in external rotation from baseline to immediately post-taping and from baseline to 48 h post-taping.
03The experimental tape group had significant improvement in internal rotation from baseline to immediately post-taping and from baseline to 48 h post-taping, while the control group had no significant improvement at any time point.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Both groups received tape, so the study cannot separate the effect of tape from no tape. Only 29 participants were analysed, and they were recruited from support groups in one area and tested in one clinic. The follow-up ended at 48 hours, so longer-term effects and effects after tape removal were not tested. Active joint repositioning was measured with a standard goniometer rather than a dynamometer, and that method was not validated for this test. Participants were blinded to allocation, but because both groups received tape, they may have researched taping techniques and guessed their group. Only shoulder rotation and elevation were measured, so other possible effects of tape were not tested.
Declared interests
The authors declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication. The tape was donated by Thrive Far Infrared Kinesiology Tape. The authors state the company had no influence on the study design, data collection, data analysis, manuscript preparation, or submission.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that kinesiology tape improves shoulder proprioception in hEDS. Active joint repositioning did not change significantly at any time point in either group, and the study tested only the 48-hour period while the tape was worn.