Efficacy of cervical postural correction exercises with kinesio taping on muscular activities in mechanical neck dysfunction patients: a randomized clinical trial

Mechanical neck dysfunction (MND) with impaired upper trapezius muscular activities is one of the most common disorders. For its treatment, postural correction exercises (PCEs) are commonly used. However, effect of kinesio tape (KT) has received considerable attention. This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of PCEs with KT on pain, disability and upper trapezius (UT) activities in MND patients. Randomized controlled trial was conducted. For which, ninety MND patients were equally assigned in to 1 of 3 groups to receive 4 weeks treatment; group A: KT, B: PCEs and C: both. Neck pain, disability and UT normalized root mean square (RMS) indicating its amplitude and median frequency (MDF) indicating its fatigue were measured pre and post-treatment by visual analogue scale, neck disability index and EMG. Reported data were analyzed using two-way MANOVA. MANOVA indicate a statistically significant group-by-time interaction (P=0.00). Pain was significantly reduced in group C more than B (p = 0.025), disability was reduced in groups A and C more than B (p < 0.01 and 0.034). While RMS was reduced in group C when compared to B (p= 0.037), MDF was increased in group C when compared to groups A and B (P =.001 0.00). Within groups comparisons were significant for all outcomes in all groups (p= 0<01). For conclusion, cervical posture correction exercises when performed with kinesio taping would have beneficial outcomes related to pain, disability and upper trapezius muscle electromyographic characteristics.