Effects of Neuromuscular Taping on Shoulder Pain and Function in Pitchers: A Clinical Trial

NCT07316946 | Not Yet Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: REF CEIm
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 62
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Effects of Neuromuscular Taping on Shoulder Pain and Function in Pitchers: A Clinical Trial

Conditions

Shoulder Pain

Keywords

neuromuscular taping; pain; function; shoulder

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Actual Pain Intensity

  Pain intensity will be assessed using a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS), ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Participants will be asked to rate the intensity of pain experienced at the time of measurement

  Baseline, after 30 minutes of the intervention and 72 hours after intervencion

• Pain Intensity during the arm elevation

  Pain intensity will be assessed using a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS), ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Participants will be asked to rate the intensity of pain experienced during arm elevation.

  Baseline, 30 minutes after intervention and 72 hours after intervention

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Static Scapular Position

  Baseline, 30 minutes after intervention and 72 hours after intervention

• Range of Motion

  Baseline, 30 minutes after intervention and 72 hours after intervention

• Functional Capacity

  Baseline, 30 minutes after intervention and 72 hours after intervention

Study Arms (2)

Placebo group

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

The placebo group will receive the same bandage, with the same strip arrangement, but without any tension (0%) applied to any of the strips. Furthermore, participants will not receive any instructions for muscle activation during application. This placebo technique has been used in previous studies, supporting its methodological validity.

Other: Placebo Group

Experimental group

EXPERIMENTAL

The experimental group will receive neuromuscular taping with kinesiology tape, consisting of two longitudinal strips applied along the lower trapezius muscle, with a tension close to 100% of the tape's elastic capacity. During application, the participant will be asked to activate the scapular depressor and retractor muscles. Additionally, two more longitudinal strips will be applied from the anterior portion of the humeral head towards the scapular spine, also with a tension close to 100%. During this application, the participant will be asked to activate the rotator cuff by applying a posteroanterior push to the humeral head.

Other: Experimental Group

Interventions

Experimental Group OTHER

The experimental group will receive a multilayer neuromuscular taping application using kinesiotape, consisting of the placement of two longitudinal strips in the direction of the lower trapezius, applied with tension close to 100% of the tape's elastic capacity. During the application, participants will be asked to activate the scapular depressor and retractor muscles. Additionally, two other longitudinal strips will be applied from the anterior portion of the humeral head toward the scapular spine, also with tension close to 100%. During this application, participants will be asked to activate the rotator cuff through a posteroanterior push of the humeral head.

Experimental group

Placebo Group OTHER

The placebo group will receive the same taping, with an identical arrangement of the strips, but without applying any tension (0%) to them. In addition, participants will not receive any instructions regarding muscle activation during the application. This placebo taping model has been used in previous studies, supporting its methodological validity.

Placebo group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• age over 18 years
• compete in a sport that involves overhead movement patterns
• train at least 2 hours per week
• shoulder pain lasting more than six weeks
• shoulder pain related to sports activity
• understand Spanish fluently enough to complete the questionnaire assessment.

You may not qualify if:

• presence of red flags that could suggest fractures, dislocations, or complete tendon ruptures, among others
• neurological pathologies
• other severe pathologies such as inflammatory arthritis, frozen shoulder
• having received corticosteroid injections or physiotherapy treatment in the last six months
• presence of previous surgeries
• pregnancy
• cognitive deficits that could limit the comprehension of the questionnaires or the physical evaluation
• skin problems that would be a contraindication for any type of bandage.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Sandra Jiménez-del-Barrio: lead

Study Sites (1)

Faculty of Health Sciences

Soria, Soria, 42004, Spain

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Shoulder Pain; Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Arthralgia; Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: participants and outcome assessors will be blinded
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD Physiotherapist

Model Details: Randomized clinical trial 2 arms

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 9, 2025
• First Posted: January 5, 2026
• Study Start: February 13, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 20, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 30, 2026
• Last Updated: January 5, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12

Locations

ES (1)