Taping for Frozen Shoulder

In athletic treatment rooms, especially in Division 1 (D1) college athletics and elite athletic institutions, taping is one of the most commonly used techniques to support, protect, and even enhance performance. Whether it’s to stabilize an injured shoulder during a game or to manage a chronic condition like frozen shoulder, taping can provide athletes with the support they need to keep going. In this article, we’ll dive into the world of taping, what it’s all about, the types of tape available, and how taping is used in top-level athletic settings to treat shoulder injuries. We’ll also explore how taping can help manage the symptoms of frozen shoulder.

What is Taping?

Taping, in an athletic context, refers to the application of specialized adhesive tape to a body part (typically a joint or muscle) to provide stability, support, or protection. The process can involve a variety of techniques and types of tape, each chosen based on the athlete's specific injury, the sport, and the treatment goals. Taping is widely used in sports medicine to stabilize joints, reduce swelling, limit painful movements, and protect against re-injury.

The popularity of taping, particularly kinesiology taping, surged after athletes like Kerri Walsh Jennings and others wore brightly colored tape in major sporting events, sparking public curiosity. Since then, it’s become a staple in sports therapy, especially for treating common athletic injuries. Athletic trainers and manual therapists in competitive sports settings use tape not only for immediate relief but as part of a broader rehab and performance strategy.

Types of Tape and How They Work

There are different types of tape, each with a unique application and purpose:

1. Athletic Tape (Rigid Tape)
Athletic or rigid tape provides firm support to stabilize a joint or prevent specific movements. It’s commonly used to immobilize an area temporarily, such as when taping a sprained ankle or stabilizing a shoulder. Rigid tape is strong and non-elastic, so it’s typically used for shorter durations, like during practices or games.

2. Kinesiology Tape
Kinesiology tape is an elastic, breathable tape that mimics the elasticity of human skin. Unlike rigid tape, it allows for a greater range of motion while still providing support. Kinesiology tape is often used to enhance proprioception (awareness of joint position), which can help athletes with movement control and injury prevention. It’s also believed to improve circulation, reduce pain, and relieve muscle tension, making it a go-to for conditions like shoulder impingement or rotator cuff strains.

3. Elastic Adhesive Tape
Elastic adhesive tape is somewhat in between athletic tape and kinesiology tape. It provides more movement than rigid tape but less than kinesiology tape, offering moderate support and flexibility. Athletic trainers often use elastic tape to give athletes stability without fully limiting their range of motion, making it great for muscle strains and mild ligament sprains.

Taping in the Athletic Training Room

In D1 college athletic training rooms and elite athletic facilities, taping is a daily part of life. Trainers use taping to help athletes prepare for practices, competitions, and even to manage post-game soreness or injury flare-ups. Here are some of the main ways taping is used in these high-performance settings:

Stabilizing Injuries During Play
One of the most common reasons for taping is to stabilize injured joints or muscles, especially for athletes who need to keep performing despite an injury. For shoulder injuries, taping is frequently used to support the glenohumeral joint (the ball-and-socket shoulder joint) or AC joint (acromioclavicular joint) when they’re inflamed or unstable. Shoulder taping techniques might restrict certain movements while allowing enough range of motion for the athlete to play.

Providing Proprioceptive Feedback
Taping provides proprioceptive input, meaning it helps athletes stay aware of joint position. For shoulder injuries, this feedback can be crucial for athletes who are rehabilitating rotator cuff strains, shoulder impingement, or labral tears, as it reminds them to avoid risky movements and improve posture. Proprioceptive feedback from the tape can even help prevent re-injury, which is essential in a setting where athletes are pushing their physical limits.

Reducing Pain and Swelling
Kinesiology tape, in particular, is believed to assist with pain management and swelling reduction by improving circulation. For example, a D1 pitcher recovering from a shoulder strain might have kinesiology tape applied across the rotator cuff to improve lymphatic drainage and reduce inflammation. The tape’s elasticity helps lift the skin slightly, creating space for better fluid movement and relieving pressure on sore or swollen areas.

Supporting Muscular Imbalances
Athletic trainers use taping to address muscle imbalances that are common in competitive athletes. For example, swimmers, baseball pitchers, and tennis players often have overdeveloped front shoulder muscles and weaker back shoulder muscles, creating an imbalance that increases injury risk. Taping can provide support to the weaker muscles, especially if combined with a strengthening program.

Taping Techniques for Common Shoulder Injuries in Athletes

Athletic trainers and manual therapists use different taping techniques to address specific shoulder injuries. Here are a few examples of how taping is applied for shoulder issues:

Rotator Cuff Strains
Rotator cuff injuries are common in overhead sports like baseball, volleyball, and swimming. Kinesiology tape can be applied in a “Y” pattern around the shoulder to support the rotator cuff muscles while allowing a full range of motion. This technique reduces muscle strain and improves blood flow to the injured area.

Shoulder Instability
For athletes with shoulder instability, especially in sports with lots of physical contact, trainers use a combination of rigid and elastic tape to provide more structural support. They often apply tape around the shoulder joint to limit risky movements that could lead to dislocation while still allowing the athlete to perform essential movements.

AC Joint Sprains
An AC joint sprain, often seen in football players and wrestlers, involves the joint where the collarbone meets the shoulder blade. Athletic trainers commonly use rigid tape to immobilize this area for short periods during practices or games. This technique protects the joint from further trauma and allows it to heal without additional strain.

Taping for Frozen Shoulder: Is it Effective?

Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is a condition where the shoulder capsule thickens and tightens, creating stiffness and pain that limits movement. Unlike other shoulder injuries, frozen shoulder progresses slowly and can take months or even years to resolve. Taping may not cure frozen shoulder, but it can be an effective way to manage pain and improve mobility.

For frozen shoulder, taping is usually applied to achieve three main goals: pain relief, improved circulation, and enhanced range of motion. Kinesiology tape is most commonly used, as its flexibility allows for natural shoulder movement while still providing support.

How Taping Can Help with Frozen Shoulder

When applied correctly, kinesiology tape can relieve pain in the shoulder area by activating proprioceptive nerve fibers that reduce pain signals. For individuals with frozen shoulder, even small reductions in pain can make a big difference in their ability to perform basic exercises and stretches essential for recovery. By lifting the skin slightly, kinesiology tape helps increase blood flow and lymphatic drainage, which can reduce inflammation around the joint. Although frozen shoulder isn’t primarily an inflammatory condition, taping can relieve the secondary muscle tension and discomfort that often accompany it.

A typical taping application for frozen shoulder might include placing a strip of kinesiology tape vertically from the top of the shoulder (over the trapezius) down toward the upper back, and another strip around the deltoid muscle. This setup supports the shoulder’s natural position and relieves tension in the shoulder and upper back. For some, this makes it easier to engage in gentle movement and range-of-motion exercises that are so important for recovery.

Research and Evidence on Taping for Shoulder Injuries

Research on taping has shown positive results for various shoulder injuries. A study published in the Journal of Athletic Training found that kinesiology taping improved pain and range of motion in athletes with shoulder impingement, which can be similar in presentation to frozen shoulder. Another study published in Physical Therapy in Sport noted that kinesiology taping for shoulder instability helped improve proprioception and stability, reducing the likelihood of re-injury.

In cases of frozen shoulder, the research is more limited, but some studies suggest that kinesiology taping may provide short-term pain relief and functional improvements. A study in the Journal of Clinical Rehabilitation found that patients with frozen shoulder experienced reduced pain and improved shoulder function when kinesiology tape was applied as part of a broader treatment plan that included physical therapy.

How to Incorporate Taping into Frozen Shoulder Management

If you’re considering taping for frozen shoulder, it’s best to consult with a qualified therapist to ensure proper application. Incorrect taping techniques can lead to skin irritation, ineffective results, or even worsened discomfort.

Taping can be a valuable tool to reduce pain, improve mobility, and support rehabilitation exercises. Combined with physical therapy, stretching, and possibly other modalities like massage, taping offers a non-invasive way to manage symptoms and help frozen shoulder patients regain shoulder function.

Final Thoughts

Taping is a versatile, effective technique widely used in athletic settings and physical therapy clinics to support injuries, manage pain, and enhance athletic performance. For shoulder injuries, taping provides athletes with stability and proprioceptive feedback, allowing them to continue training and performing safely. And when it comes to conditions like frozen shoulder, taping can be a valuable part of a comprehensive treatment plan that aims to reduce pain and improve mobility.

As always, consulting with a healthcare professional is the best way to determine if taping is right for you or your clients. With proper technique and a holistic approach, taping can help make a difference in shoulder health and performance.

Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any new therapy, especially if you have underlying health conditions.

References

• McConnell, J., et al. (2017). "Kinesiology taping for shoulder impingement in athletes." Journal of Athletic Training.
• Kim, J., et al. (2019). "Effects of kinesiology taping on pain and proprioception in athletes with shoulder instability." Physical Therapy in Sport.
• Shen, Z., et al. (2020). "Efficacy of kinesiology tape in patients with adhesive capsulitis." Journal of Clinical Rehabilitation.