A retrospective analysis of the promoting effect of kinesio taping on the rehabilitation of military personnel with recurrent shoulder dislocation caused by training injury.

BACKGROUND

Kinesio taping, as a non-invasive, non-pharmacological elastic taping technique, has become increasingly popular in sports injury management due to its safety, non-restrictive nature, and lack of interference with joint movement. This study aims to evaluate whether conventional comprehensive rehabilitation combined with kinesio taping can more effectively improve rehabilitation outcomes in military personnel following surgery for recurrent shoulder dislocation caused by training injuries.

METHODS

Sixty military personnel with recurrent shoulder dislocation caused by training injury were selected and randomly divided into a study group and a control group, with 30 cases in each group.The control group received conventional rehabilitation therapy, including physical agent modalities (ultrasound), cryotherapy and exercise therapy. The study group received, in addition to all treatments administered to the control group, shoulder-specific kinesio taping (using I-strip, Y-strip, and fan-cut strips applied over the supraspinatus muscle, deltoid muscle, and glenohumeral joint area, changed daily). After 6 weeks of treatment, shoulder joint range of motion, UCLA(The university of California at Los Angeles shoulder rating scale)score, and Constant-Murley score were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

After treatment, the range of motion for shoulder flexion, abduction, internal rotation, external rotation, and extension increased in both groups compared to pre-treatment values (P < 0.05). Similarly, the UCLA and Constant-Murley scores also improved significantly in both groups (P < 0.05). The study group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in shoulder joint mobility (P < 0.05), UCLA score (P < 0.05), and Constant-Murley score (P < 0.05) compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION

Conventional comprehensive rehabilitation therapy combined with kinesio taping can better improve the range of motion and activities of daily living in postoperative military personnel with recurrent shoulder dislocation caused by training injury.