Investigation of the Effectiveness of Muscle Inhibition and Space Correction Techniques of Kinesiotaping Method in Female Patients With Myofascial Pain Syndrome Related to Upper Trapezius Active Trigger Points

To investigate the effectiveness of muscle inhibition and space correction techniques of kinesiotaping (KT) method; on pain, functional status and quality of life in female patients with myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) related to upper trapezius active trigger points (TP) in comparison to control group and to determine the advantage of each technique over another.

The investigators conducted a prospective, randomized, controlled trial involving 93 female patients with MPS related to upper trapezius TPs and randomized the patients to KT treatment group with space correction technique and home exercise program (KSCT, n=20), KT treatment group with muscle inhibition technique and home exercise program (KMIT, n=24) and control group (CG, n=27) which received home exercise program only. Patients were evaluated by numerical rating scale (NRS) for their average and maximum pain intensity, Turkish version of neck disability index (NDI), and short form-36 (SF-36) scales. Statistical tests were conducted at the 0.05 significance level for all outcome measures.

Inclusion Criteria:

• being female
• being aged between 18 and 45 years old
• not being in menopausal period
• having pain in upper trapezius region
• determining a taut band in examination
• having at least one active TP in this taut band
• the pain produced by palpation of this TP is the pain that the patient complains
• painfull restriction of cervical lateral flexion
• having pain score 4 or more according to NRS
• signing informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• having major surgery or trauma related to the musculoskeletal system (primarily including the spine and upper extremity)
• having any operative history including the head and neck region
• having a neuromuscular disease
• having an active rheumatic disease
• having a systemic disease (diabetes, hypothyroidism, infection, malignancy...)
• having any pathology related to musculoskeletal diseases -especially including the cervical region- (cervical discopathy, cervical spondylosis, pathologies related to shoulder joint and surrounding soft tissues, scoliosis, kyphosis, limb length discrepancy, polio sequelae, developmental hip dysplasia...)
• having serious psychological problems (having score of 30 or more from Beck Depression Inventory)
• being obese (Body Mass Index≥30 kg/m2)
• having allergy to kinesiotapes