Effects of Kinesio Taping on Thoracolumbar Fascia Flexibility in Patients With Shoulder Injury

Subacromial Impingement Syndrome (SIS) is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain and is characterized by pain, movement limitation, and functional impairment. Contemporary biomechanical perspectives suggest that shoulder function is influenced not only by local anatomical structures but also by proximal structures such as the thorax, spine, and thoracolumbar fascia. The thoracolumbar fascia plays an important role in force transmission between the upper and lower extremities and contributes to postural control and movement coordination. Therefore, interventions targeting the thoracolumbar fascia may influence shoulder function and related clinical outcomes.

This randomized controlled trial will include a total of 60 participants diagnosed with Subacromial Impingement Syndrome. Participants will be randomly assigned into two groups: an intervention group receiving fascia correction Kinesio Taping using the Ram's Head technique applied to the thoracolumbar fascia, and a control group receiving sham Kinesio Taping without therapeutic fascia correction.

In the intervention group, Y-shaped Kinesio Tape will be applied to the thoracolumbar region using the fascia correction technique. Low-to-moderate tape tension (10-50%) combined with manual oscillatory movements will be used to facilitate fascial mobilization and modulate tissue glide capacity. The sham group will receive taping without therapeutic fascial correction.

Assessments will be performed immediately before the intervention and 45 minutes after tape application. Outcome measures will include pain intensity during rest and activity assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), trunk range of motion measured by goniometry, trunk flexibility assessed by tape measurements, thoracolumbar fascia flexibility evaluated using a goniometric platform, lumbar mobility assessed by the Modified Schober Test, and posterior shoulder capsule tightness measurement.

The primary aim of this study is to investigate the acute clinical effects of fascia correction Kinesio Taping applied to the thoracolumbar fascia in individuals with Subacromial Impingement Syndrome and to provide evidence regarding the potential effects of fascial modulation on pain, mobility, range of motion, and tissue flexibility.

Inclusion criteria

• age between 20 and 40 years,
• Body Mass Index (BMI) within the normal range (20-24.9 kg/m²),
• a chronic (symptoms persisting for >3 months) SIS diagnosis

Exclusion criteria

• any shoulder pathology other than SIS (e.g., rotator cuff tear, glenohumeral joint problems),
• inability to perform 90° shoulder flexion due to joint limitation or pain ≥8 on the VAS,
• overweight or obesity (BMI >25 kg/m²),
• previous back surgery,
• low back pain within the last six months, scoliosis, radiologically diagnosed kyphosis or thoracolumbar disc herniation, sacroiliac joint problems, restricted pelvic range of motion (anterior-posterior pelvic tilt), and scapular dyskinesia.