The Treatment of Shoulder-hand Syndrome in Hemiplegia Patients

Summary

The purpose of this clinical study is to investigate effects of Kinesio taping (KT) combined with dry needling (DN) on myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in post-stroke hemiplegic shoulder-hand syndrome (SHS).

Methods: A prospective, double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted on 84 SHS patients, who were randomized into three groups: DN (Group A), KT (Group B), and DN+KT (Group C), all receiving standard rehabilitation. VAS, ADL, FMA-UE, PROM, and 8-figure dimensional difference were assessed pre- and post-28-day treatment. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 27.0, with paired t-test for intragroup comparisons and independent sample t-test for intergroup comparisons, and statistical significance was set at P\<0.05.

Conditions

• Shoulder-hand Syndrome

Interventions

DEVICE

Dry Needling

The deltoid, subscapularis, supraspinatus,and infraspinatus muscles were examined through physical examination to determine the active myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). After disinfection with alcohol, a sterile needle with a diameter of 0.3mm\*50mm (China, Suzhou Medical Supplies Factory Co., Ltd.Hua Tuo) was used to puncture the most painful points until a local twitch response (LTR) was obtained. After removing the needle,we pressed it with a cotton swab to prevent local hematoma. The prone position was adopted for the infraspinatus, deltoid and subscapular muscles, and sitting position was adopted for DN treatment of the supraspinatus.

DEVICE

Sham Kinesio taping

For the treatment with the sham Kinesio taping, Researchers used the sports white tape of the same specification as the Kinesio taping , and blocked the vision of the participants to apply the same dose as that in Kinesio taping to the same area where the Kinesio taping was applied, so that it could be applied to the skin of the same area where the Kinesio taping was applied without pulling force.

DEVICE

Kinesio Taping

Patients received eight therapeutic kinesiology taping (KT) sessions. Each application remained for two days, with a two-day interval after every two treatments. Standard 5-cm white KT was used.A 10-cm X-shaped tape was first applied with its center anchored at 50-75% tension over the coracoid process under downward pressure; the tails were laid without tension.A second I-shaped tape was applied with the strengthening technique along the supraspinatus muscle from origin to insertion, with the shoulder extended, adducted, and internally rotated, and the neck contralaterally flexed. The ends (2.5-5 cm) were fixed without tension.The third and fourth I-shaped tapes targeted the anterior and posterior deltoid. With the patient seated, anchors were placed on the lateral clavicle and scapula. The tape was stretched over the deltoid with the shoulder horizontally extended and externally rotated into abduction.

DEVICE

Sham Dry Needling

For sham DN treatment, Researchers used a 0.3mm\*50 mm sterile needle (China, Suzhou Medical Supplies Factory Co., Ltd., Hua Tuo) and blocked the participants eyesight with the DN group of the same dose used in the local MTrP of the same area. The effectiveness of the blinding strategy was verified through experiments based on the criterion of causing a tingling sensation without causing LTR.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Handan Central Hospital

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

40 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-11-01

Primary Completion

2024-10-01

Completion

2024-10-01

Countries

• China

Study Locations