Kinesio Taping for Upper Trapezius Myofascial Trigger Points

NCT07790042 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: E-60116787-020-916157
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Myofascial pain syndrome is one of the most common causes of musculoskeletal pain, and the upper trapezius is the muscle most frequently affected in the neck and shoulder region. Kinesio taping is a non-invasive, painless and low-cost method that is increasingly used in the treatment of myofascial trigger points, but its true therapeutic effect beyond placebo has not been clearly established. The purpose of this randomized, sham-controlled trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of kinesio taping applied with the muscle inhibition technique on myofascial trigger points of the upper trapezius muscle. Forty patients with an active myofascial trigger point in the upper trapezius will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either therapeutic kinesio taping or sham taping (20 patients per group). Both groups will receive four applications over two weeks (twice weekly). The primary outcome is the pressure pain threshold measured with a digital algometer. Secondary outcomes are pain intensity, trapezius muscle thickness measured by B-mode ultrasonography, and muscle stiffness assessed by strain elastography. All outcomes are assessed at baseline, on day 3, and at the end of the two-week treatment period.

Conditions

Neck Pain; Myofascial Pain Syndromes; Myofascial Trigger Point Pain

Keywords

kinesio taping; upper trapezius; myofascial trigger point; algometry; strain elastography

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) of the upper trapezius trigger point

  Pressure pain threshold measured over the marked trigger point with a digital algometer with the participant prone and the muscle relaxed. The probe is applied perpendicular to the trigger point and pressure is increased at approximately 1 kg/cm2/s. The participant reports verbally when the pressure first becomes painful. The mean of three measurements taken at least 30 seconds apart is used. An increase indicates reduced trigger point sensitivity.

  Baseline, day 3, and end of week 2

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Change in pain intensity measured by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)

  Baseline, day 3, and end of week 2

• Change in upper trapezius muscle thickness measured by B-mode ultrasonography

  Baseline, day 3, and end of week 2

• Change in muscle stiffness measured by strain elastography (strain ratio)

  Baseline, day 3, and end of week 2

Study Arms (2)

Kinesio Taping

EXPERIMENTAL

Therapeutic kinesio taping applied to the myofascial trigger point of the upper trapezius using the muscle inhibition technique. A single I-shaped strip is applied from insertion to origin along the muscle fibres with 15-25% tension while the muscle is held in a stretched position (shoulder depressed, neck in contralateral lateral flexion and rotation). Four applications over two weeks (twice weekly).

Other: Kinesio Taping (muscle inhibition technique)

Sham Kinesio Taping

SHAM COMPARATOR

Sham taping using tape of identical brand, colour and size, applied by the same practitioner to the same anatomical region, with no therapeutic tension (0% tension) and with the neck in a neutral position, so that no skin convolutions are produced. Four applications over two weeks (twice weekly), identical in frequency and duration to the intervention group.

Other: Sham Kinesio Taping

Interventions

Kinesio Taping (muscle inhibition technique) OTHER

Elastic therapeutic tape applied over the upper trapezius myofascial trigger point using the muscle inhibition technique. A single I-shaped strip is applied from insertion to origin along the muscle fibres with 15-25% tension while the muscle is held in a stretched position. The tape is renewed at each session and remains on the skin continuously throughout the two-week treatment period (four applications, twice weekly).

Kinesio Taping

Sham Kinesio Taping OTHER

Tape of identical brand, colour and size applied over the same anatomical region without therapeutic tension (0% tension) and with the neck in a neutral position, so that the skin convolutions responsible for the therapeutic effect are not produced. The tape is renewed at each session and remains on the skin continuously throughout the two-week treatment period (four applications, twice weekly).

Sham Kinesio Taping

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age between 18 and 65 years
• At least one active myofascial trigger point in the upper trapezius muscle diagnosed on clinical examination according to the criteria of Travell and Simons
• Neck and/or shoulder pain lasting at least 3 months
• Able to understand the procedures, benefits and possible adverse effects
• Able to provide written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Diagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome
• Cervical disc herniation, radiculopathy or myelopathy
• History of cervical or shoulder surgery
• History of trauma, fracture or structural deformity of the neck region
• Inflammatory rheumatic disease, malignancy or serious systemic disease
• Neurological disease or peripheral neuropathy
• Kinesio taping to the trigger point, injection, dry needling or physical therapy to the neck region within the previous 6 months
• Use of analgesics, muscle relaxants or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs within the previous week
• Active skin lesion, wound, dermatological disease or known allergy to tape at the application site
• Pregnancy or lactation

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Pamukkale University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Pamukkale University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Denizli, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Halski T, Ptaszkowski K, Slupska L, Paprocka-Borowicz M, Dymarek R, Taradaj J, Bidzinska G, Marczynski D, Cynarska A, Rosinczuk J. Short-Term Effects of Kinesio Taping and Cross Taping Application in the Treatment of Latent Upper Trapezius Trigger Points: A Prospective, Single-Blind, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:191925. doi: 10.1155/2015/191925. Epub 2015 Sep 29.

  PMID: 26491458 RESULT

• Zhang XF, Liu L, Wang BB, Liu X, Li P. Evidence for kinesio taping in management of myofascial pain syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Rehabil. 2019 May;33(5):865-874. doi: 10.1177/0269215519826267. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

  PMID: 30712369 RESULT

• Ay S, Konak HE, Evcik D, Kibar S. The effectiveness of Kinesio Taping on pain and disability in cervical myofascial pain syndrome. Rev Bras Reumatol Engl Ed. 2017 Mar-Apr;57(2):93-99. doi: 10.1016/j.rbre.2016.03.012. Epub 2016 May 10. English, Portuguese.

  PMID: 28343625 RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Myofascial Pain Syndromes; Neck Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Alev ATIGAN, Assistant Professor

  Pamukkale University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Yusuf YOLCU, MD

CONTACT

+90 2582961602; dr.yusufyolcu@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: The practitioner applying the tape cannot be blinded due to the nature of the intervention and takes no part in outcome assessment. All measurements are performed by a blinded assessor after tape removal.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Model Details: Participants are randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either therapeutic kinesio taping or sham taping. The tape applicator cannot be blinded due to the nature of the intervention and is completely isolated from all outcome assessments.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 24, 2026
• First Posted: August 27, 2026
• Study Start: August 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Last Updated: August 27, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)