The initial effects of Kinesio Tape on shoulder joint position sense at increasing elevations

Joint position sense (JPS) is a key factor for developing and maintaining motor pathways which manage neuromuscular control of joint. This neuromuscular control is important as it helps perform specialized tasks, especially at the shoulder where stability is sacrificed for mobility. Therefore, when there is damage to the joint or the surrounding tissues the mechanoreceptors are also impaired which alters a person's proprioception. As a result of alteration in proprioception one's sense of movement and JPS is also altered which in turn diminishes his/her ability to perform specialized tasks. In the present study, shoulder JPS was assessed at increasing elevations with and without the application of Kinesio Tape (KT). Thirty healthy non-overhead athletes, who had no previous shoulder pathologies, were recruited. Subjects attempted to actively replicate three target positions with and without the KT. The absolute and variable errors were analyzed for each position. The findings of this study indicate that at 90 degrees elevation shoulder JPS is significantly affected by the application of KT.