Therapeutic Effects of Kinesiology Taping Versus Self-Mobilization on Neck Pain, Proprioception, Muscle Activity, and Respiratory Muscle Strength Among Prolonged Electronic Device Users. A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Non-specific neck pain (NSNP) is a significant health issue for individuals in occupations requiring extensive use of electronic devices. Kinesiology taping (KT) and self-cervical sustained natural apohyseal glides (SNAGs) are potential techniques for managing NSNP. However, the existing literature lacks consensus on their effectiveness. The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of KT and self-SNAGs applied to the cervical region of long-duration electronic device (LDED) users.

Methods: The study was a single-blinded, two-arm, and parallel randomized controlled trial approach. LDED users who had symptoms of pain in the cervical region were randomly allocated to either the KT (n = 15) or self-SNAGs (n = 15) group. Outcomes included upper trapezius (UT) muscle activity, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), joint position sense error (JPSE), and respiratory muscle strength. Participants were evaluated at baseline, 4 weeks post-intervention and at a 1-month follow-up.

Results: There was statistical significance in UT muscle activity, VAS, and JPSE after the 4 weeks period of treatment within the groups. There was statistical significance in respiratory muscle strength only in the group that received self-SNAGs (p = 0.032). There was no statistical difference between the two groups after treatment in all outcomes apart from JPSE during extension (p = 0.028). Group by time interactions showed no statistical significance across the three timelines between groups.

Discussion: KT and self-SNAGs have desirable effects on pain intensity, proprioceptive sense, and upper trapezius muscle activity among LDED users with symptoms of NSNP. However, self-SNAGs were more effective in improving respiratory muscle strength than KT.