A randomized,single-blinded pilot study evaluating the effects of kinesiology taping and the tape application techniques in addition to therapeutic exercises in the treatment of congenital muscular torticollis

Abstract

Objective:

To investigate the effects of kinesiology taping and different types of application techniques of kinesiology taping in addition to therapeutic exercises in the treatment of congenital muscular torticollis.

Design:

Prospective, single blind, randomized controlled trial.

Setting:

An outpatient rehabilitation clinic in a tertiary university hospital.

Subjects:

Infants with congenital muscular torticollis aged 3-12 months.

Interventions:

Group 1 included 11 infants who only received exercises, Group 2 included 12 infants who received kinesiology taping applied on the affected side by using inhibition technique in addition to exercises. Group 3 included 10 infants who additionally received kinesiology taping applied on the unaffected side by using facilitation technique and on the affected side by using inhibition technique.

Main measures:

Range of motion in lateral flexion and rotation of the neck, muscle function and degree of craniofacial changes were assessed at pretreatment, post treatment and, 1 month and 3 months’ post treatment.

Results:

Friedman analysis of within-group changes over time revealed significant differences for all of the outcome variables in all groups except cervical rotation in Group 3 (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between groups at any of the follow-up time points for any of the outcome variables (P>0.05).

Conclusions:

There is no any additive effect of kinesiology taping to exercises for the treatment of congenital muscular torticollis. Also different techniques of applying kinesiology taping resulted in similar clinical outcomes.