EFFICACY OF KINESIO-TAPING OVER LEVATOR SCAPULAE TRIGGER POINT ON PAIN, PRESSURE PAIN THRESHOLD AND FUNCTION IN CHRONIC MECHANICAL NECK PAIN: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Introduction: Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain (CMNP) is one of the most common health problems. Patient with neck pain were found to have the highest prevalence rate of myofascial trigger points. Subjects And Methods: Forty-five (45) subjects with CMNP were randomly assigned into three groups. Subject in Group?A (n=15) with mean age of 29.47?5.85 received Kinesio Taping (KT), standardized exercise (SE) protocol &home exercise program (HEP), Group- B (n=15) with mean age of 31.53?7.80 received sham Kinesio taping (SKT), SE protocol & HEP & Group?C control group (n=15) with mean age of 32.00?8.37 received SE protocol &HEP received 5 sessions 2 session per week & HEP was advised for every day for 2 weeks. Pain intensity was measured by VAS, PPT was measured by Algometer &Function was measured by NDI were obtained at baseline and after completion of 5 session. Results: All the three groups were homogeneous at baseline as there was non-significant (p>0.05) difference among groups related to all parameters. All the groups showed statistically significant improvement after 5 session of intervention in respect to VAS, PPT & NDI in CMNP. But when compared among the groups group A & group B showed significant (p<0.05) improvement in PPT when compared to Group C where as other parameters showed non-significant (p >0.05) difference among the groups after 5 session of treatment. Conclusion: The results of this study suggested that KT with SE protocol and SKT with SE protocol has a significant effect in improving pressure pain threshold whereas there was non-significant difference found among group on VAS & NDI in subjects with levator scapulae trigger point in CMNP.