Effects of Kinesio Taping in Protracted Shoulder Posture

Effects of Kinesio Taping in Protracted Shoulder Posture: a Randomized Control Trial

To determine the effects of kinesio taping in protracted shoulder posture.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Postural; Defect
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Kinesio Tape; Other: Conventional Physical Therapy

Detailed Description

Office workers generally adopt slumped sitting posture while working at desk for longer durations. Computer use has rapidly increased from past 30 years in various offices so that employees spend plenty of time using computers. Excessive increase in sustained sitting while using computers lead individuals to faulty postures, such as protracted shoulder posture. Changes in posture are related to modifications in muscular functions which alter position of joints and produce movement impairment.

Protracted shoulder/ forward head posture is one of the most prevalent faulty postures in upper quarter. This posture is associated with forwardly tilted, protracted, internally rotated, elevated and abducted position of scapula along with exaggerated cervical lordosis and upper thoracic spine kyphosis.

Muscle imbalance that occurs in this posture includes tightening of anterior shoulder muscles namely pectoralis minor and major, upper trapezius and serratus anterior and the muscles that become weak are posterior shoulder muscles, middle and lower trapezius and rhomboids. This uncoordinated muscle work causes change in scapular kinematics and orientation of glenohumeral complex that further leads to pain in neck, shoulder and arms. The scapulohumeral rhythm disturbs due to the forward shifting of shoulder joint.

Length of pectoralis minor and inadequate strength of lower trapezius are considered to be the vital muscular elements causing protracted shoulder posture in literature review. Tightening of the pectoralis minor is one of the significant feature to cause this posture. This muscle is found to be required for lengthening in individuals having protracted shoulder posture. 78% of variance in this posture was accounted by pectoralis minor muscle.

Protracted shoulder posture is a multifactorial condition and have several treatment protocols including exercises that involves lengthening of hyperactive muscles, strengthening of weak muscles, scapular posterior tilting exercises, massage, bracing or taping, postural correction and soft tissue mobilization.

Kinesio taping is a widely used technique that have ability to stretch longitudinally up to 140-150% of its actual length and was manufactured to replicate the skeletal muscle's elasticity. Depending on direction of pull and percentage of stretch during its application, it provides several benefits i.e it facilitates or inhibit range of motion, gives positional stimulus, produces further space by lifting skin, soft tissues and fascia, provides proper alignment of fascial tissues, decreases pain and edema. The technique which is utilized by clinicians in order to inhibit or facilitate muscles is mechanical correction.

There was limited use of this technique in our society especially for faulty postures and lack of postural awareness in our settings. Current study was planned to examine the effect of Kinesio tape on protracted shoulders.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 68
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Islamabad, Pakistan, 45750
    • University of Lahore, Islamabad Campus

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 25 years to 40 years (ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects having bilateral protracted shoulder posture
• Work for at least 7 hours/day, 5 days/week, in a seated position

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of serious pathology (e.g., malignancy, inflammatory disorder, infection)
• History of cervical and thoracic spine and shoulder surgery in previous12 months
• History of trauma or fractures in cervical and thoracic spine
• Any spinal deformities such as Sprengel's deformity, scoliosis, kyphosis etc.
• Diagnosis of psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression
• Cervical and thoracic spondylolisthesis, radiculopathy and spinal stenosis
• Severe skin allergy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: NONE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Kinesio taping and Conventional Physical Therapy; Standardized therapeutic kinesio taping (I shaped with 50-100% tension for 72 hours on both shoulders) along with Conventional Physical Therapy including Thermotherapy, myofacial release, exercise therapy (active isolated unilateral stretching of pectoralis minor muscle and strengthening of shoulder retractors).	Other: Kinesio Tape; Kinesio tape was applied with mechanical correction technique having I shaped with 50-100% tension for 72 hours on both shoulders in retracted position from the anterior aspect of the acromion to the spinous process of the 10th thoracic vertebra of the both shoulders. Conventional Physical; Therapy: Thermotherapy (hot pack) applied for 10 minutes. Myofacial release. Active isolated unilateral stretching of pectoralis minor muscle for 30 seconds (3 set × 3 reps/day). Strengthening of shoulder retractors (lower trapezius and rhomboids). (3 set × 15 reps/day). Participants were asked to do exercises at home on daily basis.
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: Conventional Physical Therapy; Thermotherapy, myofacial release, exercise therapy (active isolated unilateral stretching of pectoralis minor muscle and strengthening of shoulder retractors).	Other: Conventional Physical Therapy; Conventional Treatment: Hot pack, Myofascial Releaase, Stretching and Strengthening with Theraband

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pectoralis Minor Length (PML)	Changes from baseline, Pectoralis Minor Length was assessed using tapeline. To determine the pectoralis minor length, distance in inches from the inferior and medial aspect of coracoid process to the inferior edge of fourth rib was taken.	2nd week.
Total Scapular Distance (TSD)	Changes from baseline, Total Scapular Distance (TSD) was assessed using tapeline. It was measured by taking distance from third thoracic spinous process to caudal angle of acromion in inches.	2nd week.
Supine measurement of protracted shoulder posture	Changes from baseline, Supine measurement of protracted shoulder was measure by Straight ruler which is a simple scale that give measurements in inches or centimeters. Participants lied supine and their arms rested on abdomen with flexed elbows. Then distance was measured from posterolateral aspect of acromion to examining table in inches.	2nd week.
Standing measurement of protracted shoulder posture	Changes from baseline, Standing measurement of protracted shoulder posture was mesasure by Double square which is a 12 inches long carpenter square with another square hang over this 12 inch ruler. Participants were asked to stand against wall, this tool was placed parallel to wall over the shoulder to be assessed and positioned it's another extended square at the tip of acromion anteriorly. Then distance from wall to acromion was measured in inches.	2nd week.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Riphah International University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): July 15, 2019
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): December 31, 2019
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): December 31, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 7, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 29, 2021
• First Posted (ACTUAL): January 11, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): January 11, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 29, 2021
• Last Verified: December 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Kinesio taping; Double square; Protracted shoulder posture; Tapeline; Total scapular distance; Rrotracted shoulder posture
• Other Study ID Numbers: REC/00565 Anum Khalid

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No