KT Tape Shoulder

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Using KT Tape to assist in the recovery of Shoulder Injuries

There is a lot of evidence supporting the use of kinesiology tape for the healing of various strains including KT Tape for shoulder injuries. For example, a recent study conducted in Turkey took a very specific look at the use of KT Tape to determine whether or not it actually provided healing properties.

The study was to see if using kinesiology tape along with exercises aimed at shoulder and scapular muscles, increased results in combating subacromial impingement syndrome in test patients.

Neither group nor were any individuals in the study aware of what kind of tape they were wearing during the course of the test period. The test subjects wore the tape for three days at a time and repeated this for a total of twelve days with tape in place.

KT Tape Shoulder Injuries

While wearing the tape, both groups were put through an identical exercise program. The exercises performed were those targeting a strengthening of the scapular stabilizing and rotator cuff muscles.

The exercises were carefully chosen to provide viable measurements that could be recorded and compared. The data collected was under the guideline of two common measuring guides used by medical professionals and chiropractors to determine degree of pain and mobility.

The study measured pain on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scales. It also recorded active and passive joint range of motion and isometric strength.

The measurements were taken on the fifth day (prior to the tape being applied) and on the twelfth day (after tape had been applied). The measurements were taken by someone who had no information on what group the individual test subjects were a part of.

Some of the Main Benefits of KT Tape

The Results of the research into KT Tape

The KT Tape shoulder group indicated they were experiencing far less pain during the exercises according to VAS measurements on the measurement days and even less pain at night by the time of the twelfth day.

This group also showed improved DASH scores on measurement days plus painless range of motion abduction by the twelfth day.

In the data collected from strength measurements, the KT Tape shoulder group also had significant external rotation strength by the twelfth day.

The only significant piece of data to come from the group of test subjects using the fake tape was rather interesting.

They reported increased passive shoulder flexion range by the twelfth day. Oddly enough, that was the only improvement recorded during the entire study that came from the fake KT Tape shoulder group.

This may have resulted from even a fake tape producing some recordable level of pain relief through sensory input alteration. In other words, the fake tape applied to skin could have produced some lifting and decompression but not to the degree KT Tape does.

Regardless, using both the VAS and DASH measuring guides, there was enough data collected from this group that measured some level of positive action.

As none of the test subjects had any awareness of what kind of tape they were using, it is interesting to note this piece of data.

It shows that decompression created by applying something to skin to create this effect has a beneficial result.

However, for best results it is advisable to use actual kinesiology tape as it is manufacturer specifically for this kind of use.

What This Means For You

Before you KT Tape shoulder injuries or pain it is advisable to first seek the advice of a health professional.

The purpose of this is to first determine whether or not the injury is more serious which would require a different form of treatment.

KT Tape shoulder treatments should not be used if a bone is broken nor should it be used instead of a cast or any other form of aid outside of what it is designed for.

Your doctor will be able to best determine if the use of kinesiology tape is safe for you related to any possible complications that may arise from a pre-existing health condition. There have been some reports of allergic reactions to the tape and that is another possibility to keep in mind.

Aside from those concerns, if you choose to use KT Tape for shoulder pain or rehabilitation for a shoulder injury, you will have to carefully follow instructions in order to receive the best results and correct benefit of the way this product promotes blood flow and creates the conditions necessary for fast and effective pain control and injury healing.