THE EFFECTS OF EARLY PERIOD KINESIOTAPE

Chronic shoulder pain is the second most common musculoskeletal problem in the population with a prevalence ranging from 15% to 22%. Rotator cuff (RM) tears are one of the important pathophysiologic conditions leading to shoulder pain. Early treatment of RM tears is conservative and includes oral analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroid injections if necessary and physiotherapy methods. Treatment of rotator sheath problems may be surgical and/or conservative depending on the indications. Surgical treatment is inevitable for partial tears and complete ruptures that do not respond to conservative treatment. After surgery, a good rehabilitation program is needed to increase the success of the surgical intervention, return to functional activities and improve the patient's quality of life. One of the most important problems for the patient, physician and physiotherapist in the rehabilitation program to be applied in this period is the immobilization period of 6 weeks. This is the recommended time for tissue healing. However, the negative effects of prolonged immobilization should not be forgotten. It is important to use early physiotherapy applications to prevent adhesions and reduce complications that may occur.

The Kinesio Taping® technique and Kinesio Tex® tape were developed in 1973 by Dr. Kenzo Kase, a Japanese chiropractor and acupuncturist. There is an increasing number of health professionals, including physicians and physiotherapists who deal with musculoskeletal diseases and lymphology, who apply this method to their patients all over the world. It is also widely used in the sports world, especially considering its ease of use and effects. It helps structures such as the musculoskeletal system, circulatory system and nervous system to return to normal function. It is a preferred method because these bands are easy to apply and patients can easily remove them. In the literature, there is no study examining the effects of kinesio tape application after rotator cuff repair.

Considering the effects of kinesio tape on pain and edema; we think that it will have positive results in the rehabilitation program applied after rotator cuff repair.

Inclusion criteria

• Be between the ages of 18-65,
• Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair as a surgical method,
• diagnosis of a small or medium-sized (<3 cm) rotator cuff tear by magnetic resonance imaging,
• Having a score above 24 on the Mini Mental State Examination,
• Volunteering to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of diabetes mellitus,
• Stage three and above according to the Goutallier fatty degeneration classification,
• Presence of a neurological problem,
• Presence of cervical disc herniation,
• Past history of orthopedic disease on the affected side,
• Presence of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or other systemic inflammatory problem,
• Corticosteroid injection for the affected side within 6 weeks before diagnosis.