KINESIOTAPING FOR THE PREVENTION OF SPORTS INJURIES OF THE SHOULDER IN OVERHEAD ATHLETES

Today, we are increasingly seeing an increase in physical activity and intensity of stress during the training and competition period in game sports. Shoulder injuries are the third most common musculoskeletal sports injuries after back and neck injuries. Therefore, the search for injury prevention tools that will help to avoid or minimise injuries while increasing the functional capabilities of the musculoskeletal system remains relevant. Kinesiotaping is considered to be one of the physical therapy methods aimed at supporting and stabilising the musculoskeletal system without limiting the range of motion, which allows this method to be used in the prevention of sports injuries. There are contradictory data in the scientific literature on the effectiveness of kinesiotaping in the prevention of sports injuries of the shoulder, especially for overhead athletes. Оbjective. To analyse the effect of kinesiotaping on the prevention of sports injuries of the shoulder joint in athletes according to scientific sources. Materials and methods. To review scientific sources on the problem of kinesiotaping in sports, we used a search in the scientometric databases Web of Science and Scopus in the РIСO format. The following research question was formulated: «Is kinesiotaping effective in the prevention of sports shoulder injuries in overhead athletes?». Results and discussion. Kinesiotaping is considered as one of the physical therapy methods aimed at supporting and stabilising the musculoskeletal system without limiting the range of motion. Research results indicate potential positive effects of kinesiotaping. The works we have selected show that kinesiotaping is used to prevent sports injuries, improve function in individual joints, and improve physical qualities in athletes, etc. However, the conclusions are quite controversial: there is both a positive effect of kinesiotaping and its absence. The debate about the evidence for the use of kinesiotaping continues. We agree with the conclusions of the systematic reviews we analysed that the contradictory results of the studies require high-quality scientific research on the possibility of kinesiotaping's impact on risk factors for sports shoulder injuries. Conclusions. Kinesiotaping is considered as one of the means of physical therapy used for the prevention and rehabilitation of shoulder injuries. So far, the effectiveness of kinesiotaping in the prevention of sports injuries of the shoulder among sportsmen of game sports is not sufficiently studied. Along with studies that recommend kinesiotaping, there are opposing conclusions about the lack of effect of kinesiotaping in the prevention of sports injuries.