European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

IMMEDIATE EFFECTS OF KINESIOTAPING AND CYRIAX TRANSVERSE FRICTION MASSAGE ON LATENT MYOFASCIAL TRIGGER POINTS IN COMPUTER USERS.

*Akhtar Pooja M., (PT) M. P.Th and Ivnish Gujral, B. P.Th.

ABSTRACT

Myofascial trigger point (MTrPs) is a sensitive, hyperirritable spot in a taut band which is painful on compression or stretch and gives rise to a typical referred pain pattern. Kinesiotaping is a therapeutic concept often used as a supplementary method to restore proper functioning of the muscles by means of special tapes. Transverse Friction Massage (TFM) is a deep tissue technique which causes immediate pain relief and increase in strength and mobility The study aimed to compare the immediate effects of a Kinesiotaping with Cyriax transverse friction massage in myofascial trigger point (MTrP) tenderness. One hundred twenty computer operators, aged 30–50 years, presenting with chronic mechanical neck pain and presented with latent MTrPs in the upper trapezius muscle, according to the iagnostic criteria described by Simons and by Gerwin, were enrolled as subjects and were divided randomly into two groups: Group A treated by Kinesiotaping, and group B treated with Cyriax transverse friction massage. The outcome measures were visual analogue scale assessing local pain evoked by an application of 2.5 kg/cm2 of pressure using pressure algometer on the MTrP and cervical lateral flexion range of motion to opposite side assessed pre-treatment and 2 min post-treatment by a blinded assessor. There was a significant decrease in the mean pain scores from 6.1 to 4.2 in Kinesiotaping group and 6.13 to 2.966 in Cyriax massage group. When the two modalities were compared for decrease in pain, Cyriax was better in reducing the pain (p=0.01) while no statistically significant difference was observed in the cervical lateral flexion (p value= 0.3) Conclusion: Cyriax transverse friction massage was more effective in pain reduction in latent MTrPs.

Keywords: Myofascial trigger points, Kinesiotaping, Transverse friction massage.