Comparison of the Short-Term Outcomes after Postisometric Muscle Relaxation or Kinesio Taping Application for Normalization of the Upper Trapezius Muscle Tone and the Pain Relief: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to evaluate the resting bioelectrical activity of the upper trapezius muscle (the UT muscle) before and after one of the two interventions: postisometric muscle relaxation (PIR) and Kinesio Taping (KT). Moreover a comparison between group results was conducted. From the initial 61 volunteers, 52 were selected after exclusion criteria and were allocated randomly to 2 groups: PIR group and KT group. Outcome measures were assessed at baseline and completion of the intervention. The primary outcome measure was change in bioelectrical activity of UT muscle evaluated by surface electromyography (sEMG). Secondary outcomes included subjective assessment of pain using visual analogue scale (VAS). Significant differences were found only in KT group: the average resting bioelectrical activity decreased by 0.8 μV (p = 0.0237) and the average VAS result reduced by 2.0 points (p = 0.0001). Greater decrease of VAS results was recorded in KT group compared to PIR group (p = 0.0010). Both PIR and KT intervention did not influence significantly the resting bioelectrical activity of UT muscle. KT application was better for pain relief in the studied sample compared with PIR intervention.

Treatment of Myofascial Triggerpoints: A Comparison of “Spray and Stretch” and “Postisometric Relaxation”

“…Hong et al reported significant increase of PPT after SAS [14] whereas Martín-Pinta do Zugasti et al found no change in PPT as well [15]. For PIR, a reduction of VAS by 0.7 has been reported by Ptaszkowski et al [12]. As mentioned earlier we considered a change of 2.0 or more in VAS as clinically relevant for this study.…”

“…Postisometric relaxation therapy (PIR) was first described by Karel Lewit [10] and is believed to be effective for trigger point treatment [1,11]. A recent study compared PIR with Kinesio Taping and found the latter more effective for pain reduction [12]. A muscle energy technique, descriebed very similar to PIR, was as effective as ischaemic compression to reduce trigger point pain [13].…”

“…For SAS, usually the effect of one application was evaluated [14,15,17]. Whereas PIR was used 3 times in one study [12], in our trial. We can not explain the majority of women pre senting with myofascial pain but this is consistent with former studies.…”

Effects of Kinesiology Taping on Shoulder Posture and Peak Torque in Junior Baseball Players with Rounded Shoulder Posture: A Pilot Study

“…When the kinesiology tape was applied to athletes with scapular dyskinesis, upper trapezius activity decreased, and scapular kinematics, such as scapular posterior tilt and upward rotation, improved [21]. Application of the kinesiology tape to the upper trapezius was more effective in pain relief than postisometric muscle relaxation intervention [22]. Furthermore, when it was applied to the pelvis of patients with low back pain having sacroiliac joint dysfunction and an increased sacral horizontal angle, the pelvic anterior tilt and pain were reduced [23].…”

Taping for conditions of the musculoskeletal system: an evidence map review

“…There were twenty RCTs related to the cervical spine that assessed KT, with overall PEDro scores ranging from 4 to 8 (Appendix 2 File: Appendix 2I). Ten RCTs pertained to mechanical or non-specific neck pain [161][162][163][164][165][166][167][168][169][170], nine RCTs pertained to trigger points or pain of the upper trapezius [171][172][173][174][175][176][177][178][179], and one RCT investigated whiplash associated neck pain [180]. There were no RCTs that studied rigid taping, Mulligan taping or Mc-T in relation to conditions of the cervical spine.…”