Clinical Effects of Combined Kinesiotaping and Steroid Injection in Stroke Patients With Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain

Kinesio tape would be applied (1)over the extensor muscles of the affected hand for facilitating the extension of hand. We will apply the tape from the upper 1/3 length of dorsal side of the forearm and split the tape into five equal bars to the distal interphalangeal joint of each finger along the finger bones. (2) from above the scapula spine to the medial deltoid. (3) from medial border of scapula to anterior deltoid.This intervention would be executed for five days per week for three weeks.

In the thirty-minute hand rehabilitation program, a motor-relearning theory would be implemented into the intervention by teaching the participants how to use their upper limb properly without any compensatory motions. Therefore, for establishing a correct movement pattern, an occupational therapist would provide a hand-guided activity, in which the participants could practice reaching movement as well as hand grasp and release in a more natural way. Besides, the therapist would also help the patients release their muscle tone by stretching the spastic muscles for five minutes before and after this hand rehabilitation period

all the steroid injection would be executed by physicians. The 23G needles would be used for the injections. The examiners would be clear and familiar with the protocol, and the injections would be executed for only one time during the study period in experimental group.