OBJECTIVES: In order to study the effect of scapular girdle taping on hemiplegic shoulder pain, a clinical study was performed. . METHODS: Forty patients with hemiplegic shoulder pain were randomized into two groups. Twenty patients underwent a standard acupuncture treatment for shoulder pain (named control group). The other twenty patients underwent the same acupuncture treatment, but scapular girdle taping was added after acpuncture treatment (named sample group). Tapes were applied to the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, deltoid and pectoris major muscles. Shoulder pain was measured with a visual analog scale. The acupuncture treatment was performed daily for 3 weeks, and the scapular girdle taping was performed for 3 weeks in the frequency of 2 times a week. RESULTS: In terms of improvement of pain, the sample group showed statistically meaningful decrease after 3 times treatment compared with control group (P<0.05). In terms of improvement of pain with shoulder subluxation, the sample group showed a statistically meaningful decrease after 3 treatments compared with the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results support that scapular girdle taping is significantly effective in reducing hemiplegic shoulder pain.