Rigid shoulder taping with physiotherapy in patients with subacromial pain syndrome: A randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of individualized physiotherapy in combination with rigid taping compared with individualized physiotherapy alone in patients with subacromial pain syndrome. DESIGN: A prospective randomized trial with concealed allocation. PATIENTS A total of 140 patients between 18 and 65 years of age from primary physiotherapy settings. METHODS: The intervention group received individualized physiotherapy and shoulder taping. The control group received individualized physiotherapy only. Primary outcomes were pain intensit (numerical rating scale) and functioning (Simple Shoulder Test). Secondary outcomes were global perceived effect and patient-specific complaints. Data were collected at baseline, and at 4, 12 and 26 weeks' follow-up. RESULTS: During the 6-month follow-up period multilevel analysis showed a significant difference between groups favouring the control group on pain intensity (p = 0.02), but not on functioning. Regarding secondary outcomes, a significant difference between groups was found favouring the intervention group for global perceived effect (p = 0.02), but not for patient-specific complaints. CONCLUSION: Rigid shoulder taping, as used in this study, cannot be recommended for improving physiotherapy outcomes in people with subacromial pain syndrome.