Kinesio taping versus dry needling in the treatment of myofascial pain of the upper trapezius muscle: A randomized, single blind (evaluator), prospective study
Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, İzmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey | [b] Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty of İzmir Katip Çelebi University, İzmir, Turkey
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: İlker Şengül, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty of İzmir Katip Çelebi University, Basın Sitesi, Karabağlar, İzmir, 35360, Turkey. Tel.: +90 232 2444444; Fax: +90 232 2431530; E-mail: ilkrsngl@gmail.com.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Although a number of therapeutic interventions for trigger-point inactivation have been studied, it remains controversial which intervention is better. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of the kinesio taping and dry needling methods in patients with trigger-point related myofascial pain syndrome of the upper trapezius muscle. METHODS: A total of 42 patients were randomly allocated to the kinesio taping group (n= 23) and dry needling group (n= 19). The patients were assessed for pain, pressure pain threshold (PPT), cervical range of motion (CROM), and function at baseline, at short- and medium-term stages after treatment. To investigate the effects of the interventions over time, two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in pain intensity at rest and cervical motion, in the PPT readings (p< 0.05), in CROM (p< 0.05), and in function (p< 0.05) in both groups, with no superiority either (p> 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Kinesio taping may be a choice of trigger point inactivation in patients who do not want to be needled or who show contraindication(s) to treatments other than kinesio taping.
Keywords: Myofascial pain, trigger point, dry needling, kinesio taping
