Effectiveness of kinesiobant in patients with hemiplejic shoulder pain

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of additional kinesiotaping over the conventional rehabilitation program on pain, joint range of motion, spasticity, upper extremity functions and subacromial distance measurements in stroke patients with hemiplegic shoulder pain. Materials and Methods: Thirty-five patients with hemiplegic shoulder pain in the first 6 months after stroke were included in the study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. Only the conventional physical therapy program was given to the exercise group consisting of seventeen patients. In addition to the conventional physical therapy program, kinesio taping was applied to the kinesio taping group consisting of eighteen patients. Kinesiotape application was applied once a week for a total of 3 times, for 5 days each, and 2 days without tape. Conventional rehabilitation program was applied to patients in both groups 5 days a week for 3 weeks. Pain severity assessment of patients was done by VAS, spasticity assessment by Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), joint range of motion (EHA) by goniometry, subacromial distance measurement by ultrasonography (USG), upper extremity motor functions by Fugl Meyer Motor Function Scale (FMMFS). Ultrasonographic evaluation was performed by a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist experienced in musculoskeletal system ultrasonography. In this evaluation, the distance between acromion and humerus was measured in terms of shoulder subluxation; also tendinitis, bursitis, tenosynovitis, etc. findings were recorded. While ultrasonographic findings were recorded before treatment, other evaluations were made before treatment and after 3 weeks of treatment. Results: The groups were similar in terms of demographic and clinical features before treatment (p> 0.05). In terms of ultrasonographic findings, more biceps tendinitis was diagnosed in patients in the kinesio group (p = 0.037). When the subacromial distance measurements of the patients were compared, there was no significant difference between the groups before treatment (p> 0.05). In the kinesio group, significant improvements were observed in VAS rest, VAS exercise, flexion and abduction range of motion and FMMFS scores compared to pretreatment (p<0.05). There were significant improvements in VAS exercise, flexion and abduction range of motion values in the exercise group (p <0.05); there were no significant differences in VAS rest and FMMFS scores compared to pretreatment (p> 0.05). No significant change was observed in the MAS score and the subacromial distance measurement evaluated by USG in both groups compared to pretreatment (p> 0.05). When the groups were compared after treatment, no significant difference was found in any of the evaluation parameters (p> 0.05). Conclusion: Conventional rehabilitation program has been shown to reduce pain in hemiplegic shoulder during exercise and to increase passive shoulder flexion and shoulder abduction joint range of motion. Kinesio taping applied in addition to conventional rehabilitation program has been shown to provide improvement in pain during rest as well. No significant difference was observed in either group between pretreatment and posttreatment values for spasticity and acromiohumeral distance. Keywords: Hemiplegic shoulder, Pain, Function, Kinesio tape