Immediate Effect of Kinesiotaping With Rounded Shoulder Posture in University Students

NCT07364591 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 0000-0001-9243-0937
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 100
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

Posture is maintained through the interaction of the musculoskeletal system, visual input, vestibular function, and proprioception to provide optimal balance with minimal energy expenditure. Various factors, including prolonged static sitting, unsuitable work environments, prolonged screen use, and low physical activity levels, may contribute to postural misalignment, particularly in student populations. Rounded shoulder posture is commonly associated with muscle imbalance, altered scapular alignment, pain in the neck and shoulder region, reduced range of motion, and functional limitations. Kinesio taping is a physiotherapy intervention commonly used in orthopedic and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Proposed effects include facilitation of proper muscular and fascial alignment, enhancement of proprioceptive feedback, and potential improvement in posture and movement quality. However, evidence regarding the immediate effects of kinesio taping on posture-related outcomes in individuals with rounded shoulder posture remains limited. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the immediate effects of kinesio taping on posture, shoulder range of motion, and proprioception in students with rounded shoulder posture.

Conditions

Rounded Shoulder Posture; Kinesio Taping

Keywords

Posture; Kinesiotaping; students

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• posture assessment

  PostureScreen Mobile is a valid and reliable mobile application that provides clinical-level postural assessment and analysis. The application uses photographs captured with a mobile device camera from anterior, lateral, and posterior views to evaluate body alignment, asymmetries, and postural deviations. Through visual analysis, the application performs angular and linear measurements to support objective postural evaluation. Planned measurement parameters include head translation (cm), head tilt angle, shoulder translation (cm), shoulder tilt angle, rib cage translation (cm), rib cage tilt angle, pelvic translation (cm), pelvic tilt angle, craniovertebral angle, kyphosis angle, and pelvic tilt. To ensure measurement consistency, the mobile device camera position will be standardized at a fixed distance and height for all participants. To enhance visibility and measurement accuracy, participants will be assessed barefoot and wearing only underwear during photographic capture.

  Baseline (pre-taping), immediately after application, and 30 minutes post-application.

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Assessment of Joint Range of Motion

  Measured at baseline, immediately after taping (≤3 minutes), and 30 minutes post-taping; primary comparison is change from baseline

• Pressure pain threshold

  Measured at baseline, immediately after taping (≤3 minutes), and 30 minutes post-taping; primary comparison is change from baseline

Study Arms (2)

Kinesiotaping Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Other: Kinesiotaping

Sham Group

SHAM COMPARATOR

Other: Kinesiotaping(no tension)

Interventions

Kinesiotaping OTHER

Elastic kinesiology tape will be applied by a licensed physiotherapist with experience in taping. With the participant standing in scapular retraction and neutral posture, a Y- or I-strip is placed from the anterior aspect of the acromion toward the spinous process of T10, with 30-40% stretch over the mid-portion and 0% tension on anchors. A second overlay strip will be applied along the same path with 30-40% stretch to augment the mechanical cue. Skin will be cleaned and dried; hair trimmed if needed. Tape will be rubbed to activate adhesive. Total application time ≈3-5 minutes. Tape remains in place during immediate (≤3 minutes) and short-term (\~30 minutes) assessments and is then removed. Adverse skin reactions will be monitored; tape will be removed immediately if irritation occurs.

Kinesiotaping Group

Kinesiotaping(no tension) OTHER

The sham application is performed in the same area and configuration as the experimental arm; however, the strip is applied completely without tension (0%) along its length and does not provide a therapeutic mechanical cue. To maintain blinding, a second strip is applied along the same path with 0% tension and approximately 50% overlap. Skin preparation and application-removal procedures are identical to the experimental condition. The tape remains in place during the immediate (≤3 minutes) and short-term (\~30 minutes) assessments and is then removed.

Sham Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Being between 18-30 years of age
• Having an acromial distance ≥ 2.6 cm measured in the supine position with shoulders in a neutral position

You may not qualify if:

• Having a surgical or pathological/neurological condition in the shoulder or spine region (rotator cuff repair, subacromial impingement syndrome, acute tendinitis, cervical disc herniation, scoliosis, fibromyalgia, etc.)
• Having a neurological/systemic disease that may cause sensory problems
• Having an allergic reaction to the use of the tape
• Having a skin lesion, open wound, or skin infection at the taping site
• Using medication within the last 24-48 hours
• Pregnancy

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Selcuk University: lead

Related Publications (1)

• Barker V. Postura, posizione, movimento. Roma: Edizioni Mediterranee; 1998. ISBN: 9788827212165. Kendall FP, McCreary EK, Provance PG. Muscles: Testing and Function with Posture and Pain. 5th ed. (Port.) São Paulo: Manole; 2007. Carini F, Mazzola M, Fici C, Palmeri S, Messina M, Damiani P, et al. Posture and posturology, anatomical and physiological profiles: overview and current state of art. Acta Biomed. 2017;88(1):11-16. doi:10.23750/abm.v88i1.5309. PMID: 28467328; PMCID: PMC6166197. Zhang C, Zhang J, Yang G. Association between internet addiction and the risk of upper cross syndrome in Chinese college students: A cross-sectional study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2023;102(30):e34273. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000034273. PMID: 37505162; PMCID: PMC10378816. Silva AG, Punt TD, Sharples P, Vilas-Boas JP, Johnson MI. Head posture and neck pain of chronic nontraumatic origin: a comparison between patients and pain-free persons. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2009;90(4):669-674. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2008.10.018. PMID: 19345785. Kim EK, Kim JS. Correlation between rounded shoulder posture, neck disability indices, and degree of forward head posture. J Phys Ther Sci. 2016;28(10):2929-2932. doi:10.1589/jpts.28.2929. PMID: 27821964; PMCID: PMC5088155. Kase K, Wallis J, Kase J. Clinical Therapeutic Applications of the Kinesio Taping Method. Tokyo: Ken Ikai Co.; 2003. Cho HY, Kim EH, Kim J, Yoon YW. Kinesio taping improves pain, range of motion, and proprioception in older patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2015;94(3):192-200. doi:10.1097/PHM.0000000000000148. PMID: 25706053. Toprak Celenay S, Ozkan T, Unluer NO. Short-term effects of trunk kinesio taping on trunk muscle endurance and postural stability in healthy young adults: A randomized controlled trial. Fizyoterapi Rehabilitasyon. 2019;30(2):89-96. doi:10.21653/tfrd.437491.

  RESULT

Central Study Contacts

zehra korkut, Assist.Prof

CONTACT

0332 2233545; zehrakorkut85@hotmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: DIAGNOSTIC
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Dr.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 16, 2026
• First Posted: January 23, 2026
• Study Start: March 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 30, 2026
• Last Updated: January 28, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share