Resumo Objetivo Investigar a eficácia do kinesio taping e do taping placebo sobre a dor, limiar de dor à pressão, amplitude de movimento cervical e incapacidade em pacientes com síndrome dolorosa miofascial (SDM) cervical. Métodos: Ensaio clínico randomizado duplo-cego controlado por placebo. Foram alocados em dois grupos, aleatoriamente, 61 pacientes com SDM. O grupo 1 (n = 31) foi tratado com kinesio taping e o grupo 2 (n = 30) foi tratado com taping placebo cinco vezes em intervalos de três dias, durante 15 dias. Além disso, todos os pacientes foram submetidos a um programa de exercícios para o pescoço. Os pacientes foram avaliados em relação à dor, ao limiar de dor à pressão, à amplitude de movimento cervical e à incapacidade. A dor foi avaliada com a escala visual analógica, o limiar de dor à pressão foi medido com um algômetro e a amplitude de movimento cervical ativa foi mensurada com a goniometria. A incapacidade foi avaliada com o Neck Pain Disability Scale. As mensurações foram feitas antes e depois do tratamento. Resultados: No fim do tratamento, houve melhoria estatisticamente significativa na dor, no limiar de dor à pressão, na amplitude de movimento cervical e na incapacidade (p < 0,05) em ambos os grupos. Também houve uma diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os grupos em relação à dor, ao limiar de dor à pressão e à flexão-extensão cervical (p < 0,05); não houve diferença na rotação cervical, flexão lateral cervical e incapacidade (p > 0,05). Conclusão: O kinesio taping leva à melhoria na dor, no limiar de dor à pressão e na amplitude de movimento cervical, mas não na incapacidade em um curto período. Portanto, o kinesio taping pode ser usado como um método de terapia opcional para o tratamento de pacientes com SDM.

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of Kinesio Taping and sham Kinesio Taping on pain, pressure pain threshold, cervical range of motion, and disability in cervical myofascial pain syndrome patients (MPS). Methods: This study was designed as a randomized, double-blind placebo controlled study. Sixty-one patients with MPS were randomly assigned into two groups. Group 1 (n = 31) was treated with Kinesio Taping and group 2 (n = 30) was treated sham taping five times by intervals of 3 days for 15 days. Additionally, all patients were given neck exercise program. Patients were evaluated according to pain, pressure pain threshold, cervical range of motion and disability. Pain was assessed by using Visual Analog Scale, pressure pain threshold was measured by using an algometer, and active cervical range of motion was measured by using goniometry. Disability was assessed with the neck pain disability index disability. Measurements were taken before and after the treatment. Results: At the end of the therapy, there were statistically significant improvements on pain, pressure pain threshold, cervical range of motion, and disability (p < 0.05) in both groups. Also there was a statistical difference between the groups regarding pain, pressure pain threshold, cervical flexion-extension (p < 0.05); except cervical rotation, cervical lateral flexion and disability (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study shows that Kinesio Taping leads to improvements on pain, pressure pain threshold and cervical range of motion, but not disability in short time. Therefore, Kinesio Taping can be used as an alternative therapy method in the treatment of patients with MPS.

OBJECTIVES: Conflicting results were reported about the effectiveness of Low level laser therapy on musculoskeletal disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of 850-nm gallium arsenide aluminum (Ga-As-Al) laser therapy on pain, range of motion and disability in subacromial impingement syndrome. METHODS: A total of 52 patients (33 females and 19 males with a mean age of 53.59±11.34 years) with subacromial impingement syndrome were included. The patients were randomly assigned into two groups. Group I (n = 30, laser group) received laser therapy (5 joule/cm² at each point over maximum 5-6 painful points for 1 minute). Group II (n = 22, placebo laser group) received placebo laser therapy. Initially cold pack (10 minutes) was applied to all of the patients. Also patients were given an exercise program including range of motion, stretching and progressive resistive exercises. The therapy program was applied 5 times a week for 14 sessions. Pain severity was assessed by using visual analogue scale. Range of motion was measured by goniometer. Disability was evaluated by using Shoulder Pain and Disability Index. RESULTS: In group I, statistically significant improvements in pain severity, range of motion except internal and external rotation and SPADI scores were observed compared to baseline scores after the therapy (p<0.05). In Group II, all parameters except range of motion of external rotation were improved (p<0.05). However, no significant differences were recorded between the groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The Low level laser therapy seems to have no superiority over placebo laser therapy in reducing pain severity, range of motion and functional disability.