Taping Applications for Shoulder Rehabilitation

Introduction: Expanding the Use of Taping in Clinical Practice

Taping is often viewed as a knee-focused intervention, particularly in the context of patellofemoral pain. However, evidence from multiple regions of the body suggests that taping can offer substantial clinical benefits when used thoughtfully for the shoulder and spine. By improving alignment, reducing strain on irritable structures, and enhancing proprioceptive feedback, taping becomes a versatile tool in musculoskeletal rehabilitation.

This article explores evidence-based applications of taping in the shoulder, drawing from peer-reviewed research and clinical insights developed over decades of practice.

Taping for Shoulder Kinematics and Instability

In 2009, I co-authored a study published in the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine examining the impact of taping on shoulder mobility in junior elite tennis players. The findings revealed that glenohumeral taping when applied strategically to change the starting position of the shoulder led to an immediate increase in external rotation range of motion in the dominant arm.

It has been shown that glenohumeral taping improves acromiohumeral distance allowing for more space for the rotator cuff tendons and decreasing any potential impingement on the subacromial bursa. The improved position of the glenohumeral joint enhances scapular control, providing subtle proprioceptive cues that guides more efficient motion. In clinical practice, taping is used to:

• Increase the subacromial space which allows for improved pain free range for patients with impingement 

• Shorten the rotator cuff muscles allowing for improved control and decreased pain with shoulder elevation in patients with rotator cuff tendon tears and tendinopathy. 

• Enhance scapulothoracic rhythm in patients with shoulder problems

• Provide stability after an anterior glenohumeral subluxation or dislocation

When paired with scapular stability training and mobilisation of the thoracic spine, this approach supports improved control and reduced aggravation during overhead tasks.

Clinical Value: A Broader Role for Taping in Rehab

The strategic use of tape serves a dual purpose: it improves the positioning of the humeral head in the glenoid cavity, increasing the acromiohumeral distance which allows more space for inflamed tissue, thus minimising further aggravation of the tissue/ It also shortens the rotator cuff and scapular stabilising muscles which enhances rehabilitation. While these effects are not permanent, they allow patients to move with reduced pain and improved awareness, which in turn supports successful retraining of muscle function and movement patterns.

At McConnell Therapeutics, our taping products are designed for reliability and precision in a range of applications beyond the knee, our Rigid Tape and Under Tape system supports clinicians in delivering consistent outcomes across the body

Final Thoughts

Taping is more than a short-term pain solution. When integrated into a comprehensive rehabilitation plan, it becomes a powerful facilitator of movement correction and motor control. For clinicians managing shoulder instability and impingement, it is worth considering how taping may fit into the treatment algorithm. Often as a gateway to pain-free, functional exercise.

References

Allingham Craig, McConnell Jenny (2003) Conservative management of rotator cuff, capsulitis and frozen shoulder in ‘Rehabiliation of the Hand and Upper Limb’, Editors Rosemary Prosser and Bruce Conolly, Butterworth Heinemann, Edinburgh

McConnell J. (2000) Neuromuscular rehabilitation strategies for the shoulder girdle. In ‘Rehabilitation of the shoulder’: editor Tovin B. Churchill Livingstone.

McConnell, J., & McIntosh, B. (2009). The effect of tape on glenohumeral rotation range of motion in elite junior tennis players. Clin J Sport Med, 19(2), 90–94.

McConnell J, Donnelly C, Hamner S, Dunne J, Besier T. 2011 Effect of shoulder taping on maximum shoulder external and internal rotation range in uninjured and previously injured overhead athletes during a seated throw J Orthop Res.;29(9):1406-11

McConnell J, Donnelly C, Hamner S, Dunne J, Besier T. 2012 Passive and dynamic shoulder rotation range in uninjured and previously injured overhead throwing athletes and the effect of shoulder taping. PMR.;4(2):111-6.