The efficacy of functional supports in mediating the effects of exercise on shoulder joint position sense

BACKGROUND: Prolonged exercise and joint position sense are considered aetiological risk factors for shoulder injury in overhead sports. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of a neoprene sleeve and kinesiology tape (KT) in mediating the effect of exercise on shoulder joint position sense. METHODS: 25 overhead sports participants (women -10, men -15) completed 30 maximal isokinetic repetitions at 120 degrees/s of three shoulder exercise protocols: 9090 (seated 90 degrees shoulder abduction, 90 degrees elbow flexion), modified neutral (seated 45 degrees shoulder abduction, 90 degrees elbow flexion in the scapular plane) and diagonal (seated GHJ flexion, abduction, external rotation and extension, adduction and internal rotation). Absolute error in active reproduction of passive positioning was assessed pre- and post-exercise at 10 degrees/s. This was conducted for end range internal and external rotation, and mid-range. RESULTS: A repeated measures general linear model revealed no significant main effect for gender or exercise in any test position. A main effect for support condition was observed pre-exercise in the KT condition, with JPS significantly (p < 0.01) impaired (5.30 +/- 2.16 degrees) relative to baseline control scores (4.11 +/- 2.81 degrees) in end range external rotation at the 9090 position. CONCLUSION: Results indicated that neither neoprene nor kinesio-tape were more effective in limiting the effects of exercise on joint position sense (JPS). Healthy, un-injured overhead athletes may not need to consider taping or supportive device, indeed KT application was observed to impair JPS in specific movements.