Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) and Kinesio Taping Therapy (KT) in Shoulder Impingement Syndrome (SIS).

Material and Method: Patients were randomly divided into two groups, ESWT or KT. ESWT was performed once a week for three weeks and adjusted at a frequency of 12- 15 Hz, 2-3 bars and 2500 pulses for all patients. KT was applied twice a week for three weeks. Cold pack application for 30 minutes and 3 times a day exercise program was added to the treatment. Shoulder pain evaluation, painful arc and Neer tests, The Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand Scale (DASH) and Wong-Baker Face Rating Scale (WBS) were used before and after treatment to evaluate the efficacy of treatment. Patients were re-evaluated at end of the treatment (3rd week) and at the 3rd month after treatment.

Results: According to DASH and WBS results, statistically significant improvement in shoulder pain, internal and external rotation pain and also in shoulder-joint function was detected in ESWT and KT groups after treatment in comparison to pre-treatment (p<0.05). In comparison of ESWT and KT, apart from statistically increased external rotation pain score in the KT group than in the ESWT group, there were no differences.

Conclusion: ESWT and KT therapy were effective in pain management and preserving joint functions in SIS. We concluded that adding cold application and exercise program as a combination therapy to ESWT and KT did not caused any untoward effects and the positive outcomes of this approach in the long-term combination treatment program may be more pronounced.

Shoulder pain Extracorporeal shock wave therapy Kinesio taping