Comparison of Taping and Mobilization on Pain, Range of Motion and Shoulder Disability in Sub Acromial Impingement Syndrome in Dialysis Patients

Objectives: Subacromial impingement syndrome is one of the most prevalent causes of shoulder pain in dialysis patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Kinesio tape in combination with mobilization versus mobilization alone on rest pain, shoulder abduction pain, shoulder abduction range of motion (ROM), and shoulder functional disability in dialysis patients with subacromial impingement syndrome.  Methods: In this randomized clinical study, 40 dialysis patients with subacromial impingement syndrome were randomly divided into two groups. The first group received anterior-posterior mobilization and glenohumeral traction. In the other group, patients received the same mobilization as the first group, with the addition of deltoid and supraspinatus Kinesio taping. The treatment sessions lasted for four weeks, with three sessions per week (12 sessions in total). The primary outcome measures were rest pain and shoulder abduction pain, assessed using the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS). The secondary outcome measures included shoulder abduction ROM, which was assessed by a goniometer, and shoulder functional disability that evaluated by the disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) questionnaire. All evaluations were performed before the treatment, after 12 treatment sessions, and 10 days after the completion of treatment. Results: The results showed that functional disability, rest pain, shoulder abduction pain, and ROM significantly improved in both groups (P 0.001). However, there were no significant differences between the two groups before treatment, after treatment, and during the follow-up study (P≥0.05) Discussion: The results suggest that Kinesio tape in combination with mobilization does not provide additional benefits compared to mobilization alone in reducing shoulder rest and abduction pain, improving shoulder abduction ROM, and enhancing functional disability in dialysis patients with subacromial impingement syndrome.