Immediate Effect of Kinesiotaping With Rounded Shoulder Posture in University Students

Immediate Effect of Kinesiotaping With Rounded Shoulder Posture in University Students: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Study

Posture is maintained through the interaction of the musculoskeletal system, visual input, vestibular function, and proprioception to provide optimal balance with minimal energy expenditure. Various factors, including prolonged static sitting, unsuitable work environments, prolonged screen use, and low physical activity levels, may contribute to postural misalignment, particularly in student populations. Rounded shoulder posture is commonly associated with muscle imbalance, altered scapular alignment, pain in the neck and shoulder region, reduced range of motion, and functional limitations.

Kinesio taping is a physiotherapy intervention commonly used in orthopedic and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Proposed effects include facilitation of proper muscular and fascial alignment, enhancement of proprioceptive feedback, and potential improvement in posture and movement quality. However, evidence regarding the immediate effects of kinesio taping on posture-related outcomes in individuals with rounded shoulder posture remains limited.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the immediate effects of kinesio taping on posture, shoulder range of motion, and proprioception in students with rounded shoulder posture.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Kinesio Taping; Rounded Shoulder Posture
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Kinesiotaping(no tension); Other: Kinesiotaping

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 100
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: zehra korkut, Assist.Prof; Phone Number: 0332 2233545; Email: zehrakorkut85@hotmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being between 18-30 years of age
• Having an acromial distance ≥ 2.6 cm measured in the supine position with shoulders in a neutral position

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having a surgical or pathological/neurological condition in the shoulder or spine region (rotator cuff repair, subacromial impingement syndrome, acute tendinitis, cervical disc herniation, scoliosis, fibromyalgia, etc.)
• Having a neurological/systemic disease that may cause sensory problems
• Having an allergic reaction to the use of the tape
• Having a skin lesion, open wound, or skin infection at the taping site
• Using medication within the last 24-48 hours
• Pregnancy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Sham Comparator: Sham Group	Other: Kinesiotaping(no tension); The sham application is performed in the same area and configuration as the experimental arm; however, the strip is applied completely without tension (0%) along its length and does not provide a therapeutic mechanical cue. To maintain blinding, a second strip is applied along the same path with 0% tension and approximately 50% overlap. Skin preparation and application-removal procedures are identical to the experimental condition. The tape remains in place during the immediate (≤3 minutes) and short-term (~30 minutes) assessments and is then removed.
Experimental: Kinesiotaping Group	Other: Kinesiotaping; Elastic kinesiology tape will be applied by a licensed physiotherapist with experience in taping. With the participant standing in scapular retraction and neutral posture, a Y- or I-strip is placed from the anterior aspect of the acromion toward the spinous process of T10, with 30-40% stretch over the mid-portion and 0% tension on anchors. A second overlay strip will be applied along the same path with 30-40% stretch to augment the mechanical cue. Skin will be cleaned and dried; hair trimmed if needed. Tape will be rubbed to activate adhesive. Total application time ≈3-5 minutes. Tape remains in place during immediate (≤3 minutes) and short-term (~30 minutes) assessments and is then removed. Adverse skin reactions will be monitored; tape will be removed immediately if irritation occurs.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
posture assessment	PostureScreen Mobile is a valid and reliable mobile application that provides clinical-level postural assessment and analysis. The application uses photographs captured with a mobile device camera from anterior, lateral, and posterior views to evaluate body alignment, asymmetries, and postural deviations. Through visual analysis, the application performs angular and linear measurements to support objective postural evaluation. Planned measurement parameters include head translation (cm), head tilt angle, shoulder translation (cm), shoulder tilt angle, rib cage translation (cm), rib cage tilt angle, pelvic translation (cm), pelvic tilt angle, craniovertebral angle, kyphosis angle, and pelvic tilt. To ensure measurement consistency, the mobile device camera position will be standardized at a fixed distance and height for all participants. To enhance visibility and measurement accuracy, participants will be assessed barefoot and wearing only underwear during photographic capture.	Baseline (pre-taping), immediately after application, and 30 minutes post-application.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Assessment of Joint Range of Motion	Shoulder range of motion will be assessed using the Goniometer Pro smartphone application, which provides valid and reliable angular measurements. Shoulder flexion and extension, abduction and adduction, and internal and external rotation will be evaluated. For each measurement, the smartphone will be securely fixed to the segment being assessed and calibrated to zero in the neutral position. During shoulder flexion and abduction measurements, the device will be positioned on the lateral surface of the humerus. For internal and external rotation measurements, the device will be placed on the dorsal surface of the forearm (ulna) with the shoulder positioned at 90 degrees of abduction. Participants will be aligned in standardized test positions, and compensatory movements, including scapular elevation and lumbar extension, will be manually restricted. The limb will be moved to the end range of the target motion, and the angular value will be recorded. Each measurement will be repeated	Measured at baseline, immediately after taping (≤3 minutes), and 30 minutes post-taping; primary comparison is change from baseline
Pressure pain threshold	Pressure pain threshold measurements will be performed bilaterally on the dominant and nondominant sides using a digital algometer (JTECH Medical, Commander Echo). Due to increased activity and sensitivity of the upper trapezius muscles in individuals with rounded shoulder posture, assessments will be conducted on the upper trapezius muscle. During digital algometry, pressure will be applied to the measurement site at a constant rate of approximately 1 kg/s. The pressure value at which pain is first perceived will be recorded. Three consecutive measurements will be obtained, and the mean value will be used for analysis.	Measured at baseline, immediately after taping (≤3 minutes), and 30 minutes post-taping; primary comparison is change from baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Selcuk University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Barker V. Postura, posizione, movimento. Roma: Edizioni Mediterranee; 1998. ISBN: 9788827212165. Kendall FP, McCreary EK, Provance PG. Muscles: Testing and Function with Posture and Pain. 5th ed. (Port.) São Paulo: Manole; 2007. Carini F, Mazzola M, Fici C, Palmeri S, Messina M, Damiani P, et al. Posture and posturology, anatomical and physiological profiles: overview and current state of art. Acta Biomed. 2017;88(1):11-16. doi:10.23750/abm.v88i1.5309. PMID: 28467328; PMCID: PMC6166197. Zhang C, Zhang J, Yang G. Association between internet addiction and the risk of upper cross syndrome in Chinese college students: A cross-sectional study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2023;102(30):e34273. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000034273. PMID: 37505162; PMCID: PMC10378816. Silva AG, Punt TD, Sharples P, Vilas-Boas JP, Johnson MI. Head posture and neck pain of chronic nontraumatic origin: a comparison between patients and pain-free persons. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2009;90(4):669-674. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2008.10.018. PMID: 19345785. Kim EK, Kim JS. Correlation between rounded shoulder posture, neck disability indices, and degree of forward head posture. J Phys Ther Sci. 2016;28(10):2929-2932. doi:10.1589/jpts.28.2929. PMID: 27821964; PMCID: PMC5088155. Kase K, Wallis J, Kase J. Clinical Therapeutic Applications of the Kinesio Taping Method. Tokyo: Ken Ikai Co.; 2003. Cho HY, Kim EH, Kim J, Yoon YW. Kinesio taping improves pain, range of motion, and proprioception in older patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2015;94(3):192-200. doi:10.1097/PHM.0000000000000148. PMID: 25706053. Toprak Celenay S, Ozkan T, Unluer NO. Short-term effects of trunk kinesio taping on trunk muscle endurance and postural stability in healthy young adults: A randomized controlled trial. Fizyoterapi Rehabilitasyon. 2019;30(2):89-96. doi:10.21653/tfrd.437491.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): March 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 16, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 16, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): January 23, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 28, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 26, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Posture; students; Kinesiotaping
• Other Study ID Numbers: 0000-0001-9243-0937

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