Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School, INJE
University, Gimhae, Korea | [b] Department of Rehabilitation Science, Graduate School,
INJE University, Gimhae, Korea | [c] Department of Physical Therapy, College of Biomedical
Science and Engineering, INJE University, Gimhae, Korea
Note: [] Corresponding author: Jae-Seop Oh, Department of Physical
Therapy, College of Biomedical Science and Engineering, INJE University 607
Obang-dong, Gimhae-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, 621-749, Korea. Tel.: +82 55 329 3679;
E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Although Kinesio Taping (KT) may increase muscle
strength, few studies have examined the effectiveness of KT on muscle strength
in patients with rotator cuff tendinitis. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the
effect of KT on the isokinetic strength of the shoulder internal rotator (IR)
and external rotator (ER) muscles in patients with rotator cuff tendinitis. METHODS: Thirteen patients with rotator cuff tendinitis participated in
this study. Shoulder IR and ER strength was measured concentrically (at 60 and
180°/s) before and after applying KT. The PT of each muscle group as
well as the ER to IR ratios served as the outcome parameters. RESULTS: The PT (both absolute and bodyweight normalized) of the IRs was significantly
higher post-KT compared to pre-KT at both angular velocities. The ER/IR ratio
was significantly lower post-KT than pre-KT at 60°/s. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that KT may effectively increase the shoulder IR muscle
strength and help restore the shoulder ER/IR balance with decreased ratios in
patients with rotator cuff tendinitis.
