A number of studies have suggested that Kinesiotape may be effective for the treatment of shoulder pathologies. This study explored the effects of Kinesiotape after rotator cuff surgery.

Subjects were adults with a rotator cuff tear, with surgical repair less than six weeks prior to enrollment. The patients were randomized to receive either Kinesiotape (KT), sham tape (ST) or no tape (NT). Those randomized to the KT condition underwent taping according to the method of Kenzo Kase. Those in the sham tape (ST) condition were taped horizontally at the distal insertion of the deltoid.

At six and 12 weeks, the subjects answered questions of the Quick Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH) to assess physical function symptoms. For each testing condition, the muscular activity of the trapezius, deltoid and infraspinatus were measured using EMG, conducted by an evaluator held blind to the condition (with taping hidden by a long sleeve shirt worn by the patient)

There was no significant difference between the groups in scores on the DASH and VAS pain scores at six and 12 weeks. At six weeks, during active forward flexion, muscular activity was greater in the KT than the ST condition for the posterior deltoid (P＝0.013) and the infraspinatus (P＝0.004). At 12 weeks the muscular activity was greater in the KT than in the ST group in the middle as well as the posterior deltoid (P＝0.001 for both comparisons). A decrease in the upper trapezius recruitment was found in the KT group with increased flexion ROM at six weeks in both the KT and ST groups.

This study of patients with recent rotator cuff surgical repair found that Kinesiotape decreases activity of the upper trapezius, as compared to sham taping, with no difference between the groups in pain at six or 12 weeks.