kINESIOTAPING ON PATIENT'S FUNCTIONAL STATUS IN NON-SPECIFIC NECK PAIN
kINESIOTAPING ON PATIENT'S FUNCTIONAL STATUS IN NON-SPECIFIC NECK PAIN
The objective of the study is to find the effectiveness of kinesiotaping on the patient's
 functional status in non-specific neck pain. This is an RCT in which 26 participants with
 non-specific neck pain who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in the study.
 Individuals were randomly allocated into two groups (control and experimental) by using a
 sealed envelope method. The treatment protocol given to the experimental group includes
 kinesiotaping on upper trapezius muscle using inhibition technique (I-O) along with exercise
 therapy while in the control group exercise therapy was given alone. Data was collected by
 using NPRS and NDI. Pre and post assessment was taken on 1 st, 2nd, and 3rd sessions, and
 each session was 3 days apart. Parametric tests including independent T-test and paired
 T-test were applied for analyzing normal data. while non-parametric tests including Mann
 Whitney and Wilcoxon were applied for nonnormal data analysis.
As expected, the prevalence increases with longer prevalence periods, and generally, women
 have more NP than men. Neck pain (NP) is a major public health problem, both in terms of
 personal health and overall well-being as well as indirect expense. For instance, the total
 cost of NP in the Netherlands in 1996 was estimated at about 1% of the total health care
 expenditure or 0.1% of the Dutch gross domestic product.Accurate prevalence estimates are
 desirable to serve as a basis for etiological studies and health care evaluation, and to
 assess the effect of NP in general populations. Unfortunately, prevalence studies on NP show
 great variation in both quality and results. For instance, the point prevalence varies
 between 6% and 22%, and 1-year prevalence between 1.5% and 75%.Neck pain is becoming
 increasingly common throughout the world. It has a considerable impact on individuals and
 their families, communities, health-care systems, and businesses. The estimated 1-year
 incidence of neck pain from available studies ranges between 10.4% and 21.3% with a higher
 incidence noted in office and computer workers. While some studies report that between 33%
 and 65% of people have recovered from an episode of neck pain at 1 year, most cases run an
 episodic course over a person's lifetime, and, thus, relapses are common. The overall
 prevalence of neck pain in the general population ranges between 0.4% and 86.8% (mean:
 23.1%); point prevalence ranges from 0.4% to 41.5% (mean: 14.4%); and 1 year prevalence
 ranges from 4.8% to 79.5% (mean: 25.8%). Prevalence is generally higher in women, higher in
 high-income countries compared with low- and middle-income countries, and higher in urban
 areas compared with rural areas. Many environmental and personal factors influence the onset
 and course of neck pain. Most studies indicate a higher incidence of neck pain among women
 and an increased risk of developing neck pain until the 35-49-year age group, after which the
 risk begins to decline. The Global Burden of Disease 2005 Study is currently making estimates
 of the global burden of neck pain in relation to impairment and activity limitation, and
 results will be available in 2011. Nonspecific or simple neck pain, is the most common form
 of pain in the neck, affecting two out of three people at some point in their lives. While
 the exact etiology of the pain is often unknown, most cases of non-specific neck pain are
 caused by mechanical factors such as sprains and strains of the muscles or ligaments in the
 neck. Inflammation of the facet joints or the joints between the vertebrae leads to an
 aggravation of these structures during movement (i.e. when turning or bending the neck),
 giving rise to pain.Other factors that can contribute to the development of mechanical neck
 pain include Poor posture (i.e. prolonged sitting in a 'bent-forward' position), Physical
 overload, Stress, Smoking, and Poor psychological health, etc.Most cases of nonspecific neck
 pain are acute and resolve within three to six weeks with minimal intervention, although some
 people suffer from recurrent pain. However, if neck pain persists for longer than three
 months, it is considered chronic and further treatment may be warranted. Furthermore, if neck
 pain persists or gets worse, it can cause numbness or referral pain in the arm.In general,
 neck pain refers to pain that occurs between the occipital bone, thoracic vertebra, and
 shoulder joint. While the majority of people suffer from non-specific or mechanical neck
 pain, other types of neck pain.Symptoms of non-specific neck pain include Stiff neck,
 Restricted movement of the neck, Pain when moving the neck, which may spread down an arm and
 even into the finger, Sensation of 'pins and needles' in part of an arm or hand (caused by
 irritation of a nerve from the neck/spinal cord going to the arm), Crunching sound when
 bending or turning the neck.The Kinesio Taping Method is a definitive rehabilitative taping
 technique that is designed to facilitate the body's natural healing process while providing
 support and stability to muscles and joints without restricting the body's range of motion as
 well as providing extended soft tissue manipulation to prolong the benefits of manual therapy
 administered within the clinical setting. Latex-free and wearable for days at a time, Kinesio
 Tex Tape is safe for populations ranging from pediatric to geriatric, and successfully treats
 a variety of orthopedic, neuromuscular, neurological, and other medical conditions. The
 Kinesio Taping Method is a therapeutic taping technique not only offering patients the
 support they are looking for, but also rehabilitating the affected condition as well. By
 targeting different receptors within the somatosensory system, Kinesio Tex Tape alleviates
 pain and facilitates lymphatic drainage by microscopically lifting the skin. This lifting
 affect forms convolutions in the skin thus increasing interstitial space and allowing for a
 decrease in inflammation of the affected areas.Based upon years of clinical use, Kinesio Tex
 Tape is specifically applied to the patient based upon their needs after evaluation. The
 findings of the clinical evaluation or assessment dictate the specifics of the Kinesio Tex
 Tape application and other possible treatments or modalities. With the utilization of single
 "I" strips or modifications in the shape of an "X", "Y" or other specialized shapes as well
 as the direction and amount of stretch placed on the tape at the time of application, Kinesio
 Tex Tape can be applied in hundreds of ways and has the ability to re-educate the
 neuromuscular system, reduce pain and inflammation, optimize performance, prevent injury and
 promote good circulation and healing, and assist in returning the body to
 homeostasis.Evaluation and assessment are key to the treatment of any clinical condition. In
 order to get the desired results from a Kinesio Tex Tape application as well as any other
 treatment, a full assessment of the patient is necessary. In some cases, the treatment of a
 condition may require treatment of other underlying conditions as well. This assessment
 should include manual muscle testing, range of motion testing, gait assessment, and any other
 orthopedic special tests that you deem necessary. The information gained from these
 assessments will allow for the proper treatment protocol to be laid out. Kinesio Tex Tape can
 be a valuable addition to this protocol. It has been proven to have positive physiological
 effects on the skin, lymphatic and circulatory system, fascia, muscles, ligaments, tendons,
 and joints. It can be used in conjunction with a multitude of other treatments and modalities
 within the clinic and is effective during the rehabilitative and chronic phases of an injury
 as well as being used for preventative measures.It includes surgical versus non-surgical
 treatment options.Neck pain is a common complaint. Many Conservative treatments are available
 to patients and accepted as standard forms of practice, including such common conservative
 strategies as medication, physical medicine methods, manual treatments, and education of
 patients.The best advice for recovering from simple neck pain is to use anti-inflammatory
 medications or muscle relaxants to ease the pain and to resume normal activities as soon as
 possible. Gently moving the neck in all directions several times a day will prevent the neck
 from stiffening up.Treatment options for mechanical neck pain include Physiotherapy (i.e.
 heat, cold, traction, manipulation), Gentle neck exercises, Learning proper sitting posture,
 Yoga for improving neck posture, Massage therapy, Pressure point therapy, and Kinesio taping.
 Kinesiology taping (KT) is a therapeutic tool and has become increasingly popular within the
 sporting arena. Taping has been used for a long time for the prevention and treatment of
 sporting injuries. KT is not only used for sporting injuries but for a variety of other
 conditions. It was developed by Japanese chiropractor Kenzo Kase in the 1970s with the
 intention to alleviate pain and improve the healing in soft tissues. There are many proposed
 benefits to KT, including proprioceptive facilitation; reduced muscle fatigue; muscle
 facilitation; reduced delayed-onset muscle soreness; pain inhibition; enhanced healing, such
 as reducing edema, and improvement of lymphatic drainage and blood flow.An RCT was conducted
 which concluded that In daily practice, manual therapy is a favorable treatment option for
 patients with neck pain compared with physical therapy or continued care by a general
 practitioner. Patients with acute WAD receiving an application of Kinesio Taping, applied
 with proper tension, exhibited statistically significant improvements immediately following
 application of the Kinesio Tape and at a 24-hour follow-up. However, the improvements in pain
 and cervical range of motion were small and may not be clinically meaningful. Future studies
 should investigate if Kinesio Taping provides enhanced outcomes when added to physical
 therapy interventions with proven efficacy or when applied over a longer period. Patients
 with mechanical neck pain who received cervical thrust manipulation or Kinesio Taping
 exhibited similar reductions in neck pain intensity and disability and similar changes in
 active cervical range of motion, except for rotation. Changes in neck pain surpassed the
 minimal clinically important difference, whereas changes in disability did not. Changes in
 cervical range of motion were small and not clinically meaningful. Because investigators did
 not include a control or placebo group in this study, investigators cannot rule out a placebo
 effect or natural changes over time as potential reasons for the improvements measured in
 both groups. This study shows that Kinesio Taping leads to improvements in pain, pressure
 pain threshold, and cervical range of motion, but not a disability in a short time.
 Therefore, Kinesio Taping can be used as an alternative therapy method in the treatment of
 patients with MPS.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Age b/w 25-55 years

 -  Limited ROM

 -  Pain more than 3on NPRS

 -  Individuals having NDI score 15 - 24 = moderate,25-34 = severe

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Radiculopathies

 -  Malignancy

 -  infection

 -  trauma