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Not yet recruitingNCT07190768Updated Sep 24, 2025

Effectiveness of Kinesiologic Taping and Dry Needling in the Treatment of Subacromial Pain Syndrome

An interventional study of Kinesio Taping and Dry Needling in Shoulder Pain and Shoulder Impingement Syndrome, sponsored by Bursa City Hospital. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-09-24.

Sponsored by Bursa City Hospital · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was expected by Jan 2026, 9 months ago, but the record still lists the study as not yet recruiting.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
100
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 65 Years
Sex
All
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Study summary

This study aims to compare the effectiveness of two common physiotherapy methods, Kinesiologic Taping (KT) and Dry Needling (DN), in the treatment of Subacromial Pain Syndrome (SAPS), a frequent cause of shoulder pain. The trial also investigates whether using KT and DN together provides greater benefits than using them separately. The main goal is to determine which treatment approach is more effective in reducing pain and improving shoulder function in patients with SAPS.

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Conditions studied

  • Shoulder Pain
  • Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

Keywords

  • Kinesiologic taping
  • shoulder pain
  • dry needling
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In context

Shoulder Pain

707 studies on the registry are indexed under Shoulder Pain; 152 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 100 is above the median of 60 across 561 interventional studies indexed under Shoulder Pain.

Browse Shoulder Pain studies →

Lead sponsor

Bursa City Hospital is the lead sponsor of 66 studies on the registry; 31 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Age 18-65 years

Pain in the upper, outer arm, especially during shoulder elevation

Shoulder pain lasting more than 6 weeks with or without partial rotator cuff tear

At least three of the following findings:

Painful arc during flexion or abduction

Positive Neer test

Positive Hawkins-Kennedy test

Painful resisted external rotation

Positive Jobe's test

Diagnosis confirmed by MRI evaluation when indicated

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

Participation in a physical therapy program or receipt of injection therapy within the past 3 months

Previous shoulder surgery

Presence of joint contracture

Complete tendon rupture

Cervical radiculopathy

Systemic inflammatory disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis)

Known allergy to tape or materials used in interventions

Bleeding disorders

Local infection or open wound in the treatment area

Cognitive dysfunction that prevents cooperation

History of malignancy

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Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
100 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Kinesio Taping + Exercise

    Other: Kinesio Taping · Behavioral: Exercise Program

  • Experimental
    Dry Needling + Exercise

    Other: Dry Needling · Behavioral: Exercise Program

  • Experimental
    Kinesio Taping + Dry Needling + Exercise

    Other: Kinesio Taping · Other: Dry Needling · Behavioral: Exercise Program

  • Active comparator
    Conventional Physical Therapy + Exercise (Control)

    Behavioral: Exercise Program · Device: Conventional Physical Therapy (TENS/Ultrasound/Heat pack)

Interventions

  • OtherKinesio Taping

    Participants received Kinesio Taping (KT) applied to the affected shoulder using standard 5-cm Kinesio Tex tape. Before application, an allergy test was performed by placing a small patch of tape on the contralateral forearm for 15 minutes. The taping procedure included three regions: supraspinatus muscle, deltoid muscle, and glenohumeral joint. Application technique: Supraspinatus: Y-strip applied from insertion on the greater tubercle along the muscle to its origin with 20-25% stretch. Deltoid: Y-strip applied from 3 cm below insertion to the origin, with anterior and posterior tails placed along corresponding edges. Glenohumeral joint: I-strip applied from the coracoid process, laterally under the acromion, around the posterior deltoid edge. Schedule: Tape was applied at baseline (Day 0), reapplied at Day 7, and removed permanently at Day 14.

  • OtherDry Needling

    Participants received dry needling (DN) applied with sterile, disposable stainless-steel needles (0.30 mm × 50 mm). Target muscles included the supraspinatus, deltoideus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, and pectoralis major. Technique: The "fast-in, fast-out" method (Hong technique) was used. After cleaning the skin with alcohol, the needle was inserted into a palpable taut band until the first local twitch response (LTR) was elicited. The needle was moved vertically (5-10 mm) at \~1 Hz for 25-30 seconds. DN was applied for 45-60 seconds per muscle. Schedule: Twice per week, for 3 weeks (total of 6 sessions).

  • BehavioralExercise Program

    All participants were instructed in a standardized home-based exercise program designed to improve shoulder mobility and stability. Content: Exercises included active range-of-motion movements, scapular stabilization, and strengthening of rotator cuff and periscapular muscles. Ergonomic advice and posture correction were also provided. Delivery: Participants were taught the program in person and instructed to perform the exercises at home. Schedule: Exercises were performed daily for 3 weeks, in addition to the assigned intervention for each study arm.

  • DeviceConventional Physical Therapy (TENS/Ultrasound/Heat pack)

    Participants in this arm received conventional physical therapy modalities commonly used for the management of subacromial pain syndrome. Modalities: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), therapeutic ultrasound, or superficial heat pack were applied based on standard clinical practice. Additional care: Sessions also included passive mobilization of the shoulder into end range, scapular stabilization exercises, and ergonomic/postural advice. Schedule: One-hour treatment sessions, 5 days per week, for 3 consecutive weeks.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale, VAS)

    Time frame: Baseline, immediately after first treatment, 1 week after first treatment, and at the end of week 3.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Shoulder function (Quick-DASH questionnaire)

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 week after first treatment, and at the end of week 3.

  2. Kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, TSK-19)

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 week after first treatment, and at the end of week 3.

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Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

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References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Sep 24, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07190768
Lead sponsor
Bursa City Hospital
Responsible party
Erkan KAYA (Assoc. Prof, Bursa City Hospital) — Principal investigator
First posted
Sep 24, 2025
Start date
Oct 1, 2025 (estimated)
Primary completion
Jan 1, 2026 (estimated)
Completion
Oct 1, 2026 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 24, 2025

Study contacts

Erkan Kaya, Associate Prof.
Contact
doktorerkankaya@yahoo.com
+905056719830

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Sep 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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