Comparison the Effect of Kinesiotaping with Stretching of Upper Trapezius Muscle in Neck Pain due to Forward Head Posture

Introduction: This research aimed to compare two methods of kinesiotaping and stretching of upper trapezius muscle in treatment of neck pain due to forward head posture. Research Methods: Design of this research was semi-experimental. 36 subjects (29 female and 7 men) with forward head posture between 20-40 years of age with no history of neck pain due to vertebral fracture, disc herniation, tumors, radicular pain to hands and arthritis rheumatoid were selected for this research and assigned randomly into 2 groups with 18 subjects. One group received kinesiotaping treatment and the other group received stretching upper trapezius muscle treatment. Subjects received 10 treatment sessions 3 times per week. All subjects completed visual analog scale (VAS) and neck disability index (NDI) pre and post-tests. The data were analyzed with significant level of p≤0/05. Data were analyzed by SPSS 15. Statistical paired t- test were used to analyze effects of kinesiotaping and stretching of upper trapezius muscle in reduction of neck pain and disability due to forward head posture in each group and independent t- test were used to compare the kinesiotaping with stretching of upper trapezius muscle in reduction of neck pain and disability due to forward head posture. Results: The results of the present research indicated that there is a significant reduction in severity of neck pain and disability in both groups (P<0.05), But there is no significant difference between two groups in severity of neck pain and disability (P>0.05). Conclusion: This research showed that either kinesiotaping or stretching of upper trapezius muscle reduced severity of neck pain and disability due to trigger points of upper trapezius muscle significantly. Also findings of this research showed that there is no significant difference between kinesiotaping or stretching of upper trapezius muscle in reduction of severity of neck pain and disability. Therefore kinesiotaping can be used in case of vigorous pain either in patient under other treatment methods or in patient who cannot tolerate techniques like stretching or ischemic pressure until tolerable pain threshold.