THE EFFECTS OF SCAPULAR TAPING ON THE SUPRASCAPULAR AND INFRASCAPULAR MUSCLE RECRUITMENT IN INDIVIDUALS WITH FORWARD HEAD/ROUNDED SHOULDER POSTURE. Michael A. Keirns*1,2; Mary Taylor1; Debra Bailey-Carter1 1. Physical Therapy, Regis University, Denver, CO; 2. Physiotherapy Associates, Denver, CO PURPOSE: The purpose of this project was to evaluate the use of scapular taping on infrascapular (IM) and suprascapular muscles (SM) in individuals with forward head and rounded shoulders. It was hypothesized that a strapping strategy applied to the scapular region of individuals with this posture could alter the muscular recruitment pattern by facilitating IM muscles and inhibiting SM, specifically lower and upper trapezius muscles, respectively. BACKGROUNDS/SIGNIFICANCE: Forward head and rounded shoulder posture is associated with many disorders and has been treated with scapular taping. While there are many studies evaluating the effects of taping on lower extremities, little attention has been given to taping in the upper extremities. According to a case study by Host (1995), scapular taping can be successful as an adjunctive therapy in the management of shoulder impingement. It is important for physical therapist to understand the influence of scapular taping on muscle recruitment patterns to support evidence in treating upper quarter dysfunctions. SUBJECTS: Fourteen subjects, 7 females and 7 males, with forward head and protracted/abducted scapulae, ages 20 to 65. Forward Head/Rounded shoulder posture was operationally defined as protracted and abducted scapulae as determined by measurements greater than 5 cm from the inferior medial scapular border to the associated horizontal spinous process (Sobush et.al.,1996).The subjects were healthy and had no history of shoulder or upper quarter dysfunctions. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Muscle recruitment was measured via surface EMG using the Noraxon System. The subjects performed 4 trials of a repeatable dynamic reaching task with and without Hypafix and Leukosport tape applied to the scapular area bilaterally. The EMG peak amplitude of SM and IM and the ratio of burst area for SM:IM were measured and analyzed to determine level of muscle recruitment. In addition, a ratio of peak amplitude of SM:IM were calculated. ANALYSES: The experiment was a 2 x 2 x 4 design (Gender x Tape Condition x Trial). The experiment was a within subjects design, with repeated measures on taping condition and trial. Dependent variables included EMG peak amplitude, ratio of normalized area of burst for SM:IM, and ratio of peak amplitude for SM:IM. Data analysis consisted of repeated measures ANOVA with level of significance for all analyses set at P<0.05. RESULTS: The ratio of normalized areas of suprascapular muscles to infrascapular stabilizers decreased significantly with tape (P=0.043), and SM peak amplitude decreased significantly with tape (P<0.0005). Results of the normalized area ratio (SM:IM) revealed no gender main effect, F(1,13)=0.68, P=0.425 and no trial main effect, F(3,39)=1.74, P=0.176, but there was a main effect for tape condition,F(1,13)=5.12, P=0.043. No interactions were significant, all P>0.159. The average ratio for all trials without tape was 2.47 and with tape was 0.55. Results for peak amplitude ratio (SM:IM) revealed no main effects for gender, F(1,13)=0.85, P=0.376, for trial, F(3,39)=1.79, P=0.167, or for tape, F(1,13)=3.74, P=0.077. No interactions were significant, all P>0.127. The average ratio for all trials without tape was 2.47 and with tape was 0.55. Results of SM peak amplitude revealed no main effects for gender, F(1,13)=1.44, P=0.254 or for trial F(3,39)=2.26, P=0.098. Main effect for tape was significant, F(1,13)=27.07, P<0.0005. The average SM peak amplitude for all trials without tape was 189.41uV and with tape was 110.22uV. Results of IM peak amplitude revealed no main effects for gender, F(1,13)=1.58, P=0.232, for trial, F(3,39)=0.67, P=0.577, or for tape, F(1,13)=4.62, P=0.053. The average IM peak amplitude for all trials without tape was 199.61uV and with tape was 315.66uV. The results from this study indicate scapular taping can significantly alter recruitment patterns of shoulder stabilizing muscles during a reaching task. Specifically, SM can be decreased in their recruitment during a reaching task. The IM recruitment was increased with the application of the tape but not significantly. The main effect of tape was witnessed with a significant difference seen in the altered ratio of scapular musculature recruitment. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, scapular taping may be an effective treatment method for patients who demonstrate excessive recruitment of SM and inadequate recruitment of IM during active motion of the upper extremity, specifically during a forward reaching motion below horizontal. If EMG analysis is available in the clinic setting, it may be beneficial to analyze scapular muscle recruitment before and with scapular taping to assure that the desired recruitment pattern is achieved. FUNDING SOURCE: None KEYWORDS: Posture, Shoulder Tape, Surface Electromyographic Means and Standard Deviations of Normalized Area Ratios:(SM:IM) *Significant Difference P=0.043 Means and Standard Deviations of Suprascapular Peak Amplitudes (uV) *Significant Difference P<0.0005 Copyright 2009 by the American Physical Therapy Association. Requests for reprints should be directed to the corresponding author of the article. 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