Efeitos do Kinesio taping na cinemática escapular e propriocepção do ombro após fadiga muscular

Abstract

The shoulder joint complex highly depends on dynamic stabilization and sensorimotor control to maintain its functional stability. It is known that muscle fatigue causes scapular kinematics alterations and proprioceptive deficits, and both are related with shoulder injuries. Kinesio taping (KT) is an elastic taping that has been widely used in rehabilitation and injuries preventions. Several effects have been attributed to KT, including muscle facilitation and improvement of proprioceptive feedback. Therefore, the main purpose of this thesis was to investigate the effects of KT on scapular kinematics and shoulder proprioception following a muscle fatigue protocol. This thesis is composed of three studies. The objective of the study I was to investigate the relationship between clavicular movements (elevation and retraction) and the EMG signal recorded on three electrode sites: the traditional positioning (between C7 and the acromion) and two different sites proposed for clavicular fibers evaluation. It was concluded that, although the traditional electrode positioning record the signal from fibers inserted on the acromion, its signal presents high correlation with clavicular movement. Therefore, it can be considered representative in healthy subjects. The study II aimed to investigate the effects of KT for lower trapezius facilitation on three-dimensional scapular kinematics of healthy overhead athletes, following a fatigue protocol consisted of repetitive throwing. Regardless a lower fatigue intensity of serratus anterior when KT was applied with tension compared to no tension, there was no effect of taping on scapular kinematics. Furthermore, although there were statistically significant alterations on scapular kinematics following muscle fatigue, the changes were small and were not considered clinically relevant. This finding was attributed to a possible adaptive mechanism of overhead athletes, who, therefore, do not beneficiate with the use of KT. The study III investigated the effects of KT applied over the deltoid muscle on shoulder joint position sense of healthy subjects, following a fatigue protocol, during arm elevation. There was an increase in the repositioning errors following the fatigue protocol, but there was no effect of the taping. The findings of these studies do not support the use of KT to prevent or minimize the effects of muscle fatigue on scapular kinematics of healthy overhead athletes and shoulder proprioception of healthy subjects.