Strong Kinesio Taping and Shoulder Performance

This randomized, sham‐controlled, repeated‐measures crossover study was designed toinvestigate the immediate effects of Strong Kinesio Taping on shoulder isokinetic muscleperformance in professional male basketball players. Each participant completed threeexperimental conditions in a randomized order: Strong Kinesio Taping, sham taping, and notaping. Consecutive testing sessions were separated by a 72‐hour washout period tominimize possible carryover effects. Because each participant underwent all threeconditions, participants served as their own controls.Professional male basketball players who regularly participated in training andcompetition were assessed for eligibility. Participants were required to be free fromshoulder pain or injury at the time of testing. Individuals with a history of shouldersurgery, neurological disorders, or musculoskeletal conditions affecting upper‐extremityfunction were excluded. Before participation, all athletes received written and verbalinformation about the study procedures and provided written informed consent.At each testing session, participants completed a standardized upper‐extremity warm‐upand familiarization contractions before the isokinetic assessment. Strong Kinesio Tapingwas applied to the dominant shoulder using a supraspinatus muscle inhibition techniqueand a glenohumeral mechanical correction technique. Sham taping was applied using thesame tape material but without therapeutic tension or application principles intended toinfluence muscle function. In the no‐taping condition, participants underwent the sametesting procedures without tape application.Shoulder internal and external rotator muscle performance was assessed using anisokinetic dynamometer. Participants were tested in a seated position with the shoulderat 90 degrees of abduction, the elbow at 90 degrees of flexion, and the forearm in aneutral position. The trunk and shoulder were stabilized, and the dynamometer axis wasaligned with the axis of glenohumeral rotation.Testing was performed at angular velocities of 60 degrees per second and 240 degrees persecond. Participants completed five maximal repetitions at 60 degrees per second and 15maximal repetitions at 240 degrees per second. A standardized rest period was providedbetween the two testing velocities.The primary outcome measures were peak torque and total work of the shoulder internal andexternal rotator muscles at each angular velocity. The external‐to‐internal rotatorstrength ratio was evaluated as a secondary outcome to determine whether the tapingconditions affected the relative balance between the shoulder rotator muscle groups.