To investigate the effect of taping therapy on hemiplegic shoulder subluxation.

Sixty patients were randomly assigned to three groups. In study group, two parts of the first tape was shaped as letter Y and were attached from humeral insertion of deltoid muscle to extension line of the clavicle midline, following anterior and middle deltoid line, respectively, with 125% elasticity. And two parts of the second tape as same as the first tape were attached horizontally from head of greater tubercle to medial border of scapular, following supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles, respectively, with 125% elasticity. The placebo group was applied by the tape with 100% and 150% elasticity and control group was not applied. The effects of strapping were evaluated by using visual analogue scale (VAS), passive range of movement (ROM), vertical distance (VD) and horizontal distance (HD) on radiologic findings of plain anteroposterior (AP) view and lateral distance (LD) on shoulder ultrasonography at entry (day 0), 1 and 2 days later.

Repeated measured analysis of variances indicated that the study group showed corrective effect in the VAS (p<0.05). The control and placebo groups showed no significant change in any parameters of distance measurements and clinical findings. In every group, spasticity, MMT and Brunnstrom stage were not changed during study.

The taping therapy with 125% elasticity may be helpful for patients with hemiplegic shoulder to reduce pain.