Effects of the Upper Trapezius Taping on Shoulder Pain, Muscle Activity, Strength, Scapular Elevation in Subjects with Latent Myofascial Trigger Points

Effects of the Upper Trapezius Taping on Shoulder Pain, Muscle Activity, Strength, Scapular Elevation in Subjects with Latent Myofascial Trigger Points

Background Patients who have latent myofascial trigger points commonly over-compensate with the upper trapezius (UT) due to insufficient shoulder flexion strength. Previous studies have suggested that taping is an effective way to restrict unwanted joint movements along the direction of the tape. However, few studies have been conducted to investigate how taping affects shoulder compensation movements in individuals with MTPs. Objectives We investigated the effects of taping on pain, activation of the UT, anterior deltoid (AD), serratus anterior (SA), shoulder flexion strength, and the angle of scapular elevation in subjects with MTPs. Methods In total, 30 subjects with latent MTPs were recruited. The subjects were randomly assigned to two groups (inhibition taping group, n=15; sham taping group, n=15). Subjects were evaluated for pain, activation of the UT, AD, and SA, shoulder flexion strength, and scapular elevation angle during maximum isometric shoulder flexion pre and immediately post-the-taping intervention. Two-way repeated ANOVA was performed to analyze group (inhibitory vs. sham) and time (pre vs. post-taping values) main and interaction effects. Results Statistically significant main effect for time was found in UT (p < 0.001), AD (p < 0.001), shoulder flexion strength (p < 0,001), and scapular elevation angle (p < 0,001) after inhibition taping. Additionally, the inhibition taping group showed significantly greater changes in UT (p = 0.020), AD (p = 0.048) EMG activity, shoulder elevation angle (p = 0.005), and scapular elevation angle (p = 0.049). Conclusions These results suggest that when performing shoulder rehabilitation exercises in a clinical setting, restricting scapular elevation via taping is an effective way to correct compensatory scapular movement and alter the recruitment pattern of UT and AD activation in patients with MTPs.