kINESIOTAPING ON PATIENT'S FUNCTIONAL STATUS IN NON-SPECIFIC NECK PAIN

As expected, the prevalence increases with longer prevalence periods, and generally, women have more NP than men. Neck pain (NP) is a major public health problem, both in terms of personal health and overall well-being as well as indirect expense. For instance, the total cost of NP in the Netherlands in 1996 was estimated at about 1% of the total health care expenditure or 0.1% of the Dutch gross domestic product.Accurate prevalence estimates are desirable to serve as a basis for etiological studies and health care evaluation, and to assess the effect of NP in general populations. Unfortunately, prevalence studies on NP show great variation in both quality and results. For instance, the point prevalence varies between 6% and 22%, and 1-year prevalence between 1.5% and 75%.Neck pain is becoming increasingly common throughout the world. It has a considerable impact on individuals and their families, communities, health-care systems, and businesses. The estimated 1-year incidence of neck pain from available studies ranges between 10.4% and 21.3% with a higher incidence noted in office and computer workers. While some studies report that between 33% and 65% of people have recovered from an episode of neck pain at 1 year, most cases run an episodic course over a person's lifetime, and, thus, relapses are common. The overall prevalence of neck pain in the general population ranges between 0.4% and 86.8% (mean: 23.1%); point prevalence ranges from 0.4% to 41.5% (mean: 14.4%); and 1 year prevalence ranges from 4.8% to 79.5% (mean: 25.8%). Prevalence is generally higher in women, higher in high-income countries compared with low- and middle-income countries, and higher in urban areas compared with rural areas. Many environmental and personal factors influence the onset and course of neck pain. Most studies indicate a higher incidence of neck pain among women and an increased risk of developing neck pain until the 35-49-year age group, after which the risk begins to decline. The Global Burden of Disease 2005 Study is currently making estimates of the global burden of neck pain in relation to impairment and activity limitation, and results will be available in 2011. Nonspecific or simple neck pain, is the most common form of pain in the neck, affecting two out of three people at some point in their lives. While the exact etiology of the pain is often unknown, most cases of non-specific neck pain are caused by mechanical factors such as sprains and strains of the muscles or ligaments in the neck. Inflammation of the facet joints or the joints between the vertebrae leads to an aggravation of these structures during movement (i.e. when turning or bending the neck), giving rise to pain.Other factors that can contribute to the development of mechanical neck pain include Poor posture (i.e. prolonged sitting in a 'bent-forward' position), Physical overload, Stress, Smoking, and Poor psychological health, etc.Most cases of nonspecific neck pain are acute and resolve within three to six weeks with minimal intervention, although some people suffer from recurrent pain. However, if neck pain persists for longer than three months, it is considered chronic and further treatment may be warranted. Furthermore, if neck pain persists or gets worse, it can cause numbness or referral pain in the arm.In general, neck pain refers to pain that occurs between the occipital bone, thoracic vertebra, and shoulder joint. While the majority of people suffer from non-specific or mechanical neck pain, other types of neck pain.Symptoms of non-specific neck pain include Stiff neck, Restricted movement of the neck, Pain when moving the neck, which may spread down an arm and even into the finger, Sensation of 'pins and needles' in part of an arm or hand (caused by irritation of a nerve from the neck/spinal cord going to the arm), Crunching sound when bending or turning the neck.The Kinesio Taping Method is a definitive rehabilitative taping technique that is designed to facilitate the body's natural healing process while providing support and stability to muscles and joints without restricting the body's range of motion as well as providing extended soft tissue manipulation to prolong the benefits of manual therapy administered within the clinical setting. Latex-free and wearable for days at a time, Kinesio Tex Tape is safe for populations ranging from pediatric to geriatric, and successfully treats a variety of orthopedic, neuromuscular, neurological, and other medical conditions. The Kinesio Taping Method is a therapeutic taping technique not only offering patients the support they are looking for, but also rehabilitating the affected condition as well. By targeting different receptors within the somatosensory system, Kinesio Tex Tape alleviates pain and facilitates lymphatic drainage by microscopically lifting the skin. This lifting affect forms convolutions in the skin thus increasing interstitial space and allowing for a decrease in inflammation of the affected areas.Based upon years of clinical use, Kinesio Tex Tape is specifically applied to the patient based upon their needs after evaluation. The findings of the clinical evaluation or assessment dictate the specifics of the Kinesio Tex Tape application and other possible treatments or modalities. With the utilization of single "I" strips or modifications in the shape of an "X", "Y" or other specialized shapes as well as the direction and amount of stretch placed on the tape at the time of application, Kinesio Tex Tape can be applied in hundreds of ways and has the ability to re-educate the neuromuscular system, reduce pain and inflammation, optimize performance, prevent injury and promote good circulation and healing, and assist in returning the body to homeostasis.Evaluation and assessment are key to the treatment of any clinical condition. In order to get the desired results from a Kinesio Tex Tape application as well as any other treatment, a full assessment of the patient is necessary. In some cases, the treatment of a condition may require treatment of other underlying conditions as well. This assessment should include manual muscle testing, range of motion testing, gait assessment, and any other orthopedic special tests that you deem necessary. The information gained from these assessments will allow for the proper treatment protocol to be laid out. Kinesio Tex Tape can be a valuable addition to this protocol. It has been proven to have positive physiological effects on the skin, lymphatic and circulatory system, fascia, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints. It can be used in conjunction with a multitude of other treatments and modalities within the clinic and is effective during the rehabilitative and chronic phases of an injury as well as being used for preventative measures.It includes surgical versus non-surgical treatment options.Neck pain is a common complaint. Many Conservative treatments are available to patients and accepted as standard forms of practice, including such common conservative strategies as medication, physical medicine methods, manual treatments, and education of patients.The best advice for recovering from simple neck pain is to use anti-inflammatory medications or muscle relaxants to ease the pain and to resume normal activities as soon as possible. Gently moving the neck in all directions several times a day will prevent the neck from stiffening up.Treatment options for mechanical neck pain include Physiotherapy (i.e. heat, cold, traction, manipulation), Gentle neck exercises, Learning proper sitting posture, Yoga for improving neck posture, Massage therapy, Pressure point therapy, and Kinesio taping. Kinesiology taping (KT) is a therapeutic tool and has become increasingly popular within the sporting arena. Taping has been used for a long time for the prevention and treatment of sporting injuries. KT is not only used for sporting injuries but for a variety of other conditions. It was developed by Japanese chiropractor Kenzo Kase in the 1970s with the intention to alleviate pain and improve the healing in soft tissues. There are many proposed benefits to KT, including proprioceptive facilitation; reduced muscle fatigue; muscle facilitation; reduced delayed-onset muscle soreness; pain inhibition; enhanced healing, such as reducing edema, and improvement of lymphatic drainage and blood flow.An RCT was conducted which concluded that In daily practice, manual therapy is a favorable treatment option for patients with neck pain compared with physical therapy or continued care by a general practitioner. Patients with acute WAD receiving an application of Kinesio Taping, applied with proper tension, exhibited statistically significant improvements immediately following application of the Kinesio Tape and at a 24-hour follow-up. However, the improvements in pain and cervical range of motion were small and may not be clinically meaningful. Future studies should investigate if Kinesio Taping provides enhanced outcomes when added to physical therapy interventions with proven efficacy or when applied over a longer period. Patients with mechanical neck pain who received cervical thrust manipulation or Kinesio Taping exhibited similar reductions in neck pain intensity and disability and similar changes in active cervical range of motion, except for rotation. Changes in neck pain surpassed the minimal clinically important difference, whereas changes in disability did not. Changes in cervical range of motion were small and not clinically meaningful. Because investigators did not include a control or placebo group in this study, investigators cannot rule out a placebo effect or natural changes over time as potential reasons for the improvements measured in both groups. This study shows that Kinesio Taping leads to improvements in pain, pressure pain threshold, and cervical range of motion, but not a disability in a short time. Therefore, Kinesio Taping can be used as an alternative therapy method in the treatment of patients with MPS.