Kinesio Taping for Upper Trapezius Myofascial Trigger Points

August 24, 2026 updated by: Alev Atıgan, Pamukkale University

Effects of Kinesio Taping on Pain, Pressure Pain Threshold, Trapezius Muscle Thickness, and Strain Elastography in Patients With Upper Trapezius Myofascial Trigger Points: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial

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.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Myofascial pain syndrome is characterized by hyperirritable nodules located within taut bands of skeletal muscle, known as myofascial trigger points. The upper trapezius is the most commonly involved muscle in the neck and shoulder girdle, and trigger points in this region are an important cause of neck pain, restricted mobility and loss of productivity.

Kinesio taping has become increasingly popular in the management of myofascial trigger points because it is non-invasive, painless, inexpensive and has few adverse effects. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses suggest that kinesio taping reduces pain intensity and improves pressure pain threshold and range of motion in myofascial pain syndrome. However, the taping techniques used across studies differ substantially. Two techniques predominate: the space correction technique, in which strips are applied over the trigger point in a star-shaped pattern, and the muscle inhibition technique, in which a single I-strip is applied along the muscle fibres from insertion to origin with low tension. A trial directly comparing these two techniques found no significant difference between them, whereas a sham-controlled trial found that the space correction technique was not superior to sham at 72 hours. Studies using the inhibition technique have reported significant improvements in pressure pain threshold. Because the inhibition technique is mechanistically aimed at reducing muscle tone and is supported by stronger evidence, it was selected for this trial.

In addition, outcome measures in previous studies have been largely subjective. Pressure algometry provides a quantitative measure of the mechanical sensitivity of the trigger point, while B-mode ultrasonography allows measurement of muscle thickness and ultrasound elastography allows objective assessment of tissue stiffness. Strain elastography with calculation of the strain ratio has shown good reliability in patients with upper trapezius myofascial pain syndrome and can differentiate active trigger points, latent trigger points and control sites.

To the best of our knowledge, no sham-controlled randomized trial has evaluated kinesio taping of upper trapezius myofascial trigger points using pressure pain threshold as the primary outcome together with muscle thickness and strain elastography as objective secondary outcomes. A sham-controlled design was chosen because sham taping alone may produce a substantial placebo response, and only a sham comparator can isolate the true therapeutic effect.

In the intervention group, a single I-shaped kinesio tape strip will be applied from insertion to origin along the upper trapezius with 15-25% tension while the muscle is held in a stretched position. In the sham group, an identical tape of the same brand, colour and size will be applied to the same region without therapeutic tension and with the neck in a neutral position, so that the skin convolutions responsible for the therapeutic effect are not produced. Both groups will receive four applications over two weeks (twice weekly); at each session the existing tape is removed and a new tape applied, so the tape remains on the skin continuously throughout the treatment period.

Patients will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio using a computer-generated random number list. The study is single-blind: the practitioner applying the tape cannot be blinded due to the nature of the intervention and therefore takes no part in any assessment. All pain, pressure pain threshold and ultrasonographic measurements will be performed by a researcher blinded to group allocation, after tape removal.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
40

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

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Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
      • Denizli, Turkey (Türkiye)
        • Pamukkale University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 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

Exclusion Criteria:

  • 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

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Kinesio Taping
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)
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).
Sham Comparator: Sham Kinesio Taping
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
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).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) of the upper trapezius trigger point
Time Frame: Baseline, day 3, and end of week 2
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 Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in pain intensity measured by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)
Time Frame: Baseline, day 3, and end of week 2
Pain intensity assessed on a 10 cm horizontal visual analogue scale anchored at 0 (no pain) and 10 (unbearable pain). The marked distance is measured with a ruler.
Baseline, day 3, and end of week 2
Change in upper trapezius muscle thickness measured by B-mode ultrasonography
Time Frame: Baseline, day 3, and end of week 2
Muscle thickness measured with a diagnostic ultrasound device using an 8-13 MHz linear probe placed parallel to the muscle fibres over the marked region. On a clear longitudinal image of the upper trapezius, the shortest vertical distance between the superior and inferior hyperechoic borders of the muscle at the centre of the image is recorded.
Baseline, day 3, and end of week 2
Change in muscle stiffness measured by strain elastography (strain ratio)
Time Frame: Baseline, day 3, and end of week 2
Strain elastography performed with the participant prone and the probe parallel to the muscle fibres at the midpoint between the C7 spinous process and the acromion. Constant light probe pressure is maintained using the pressure feedback indicator. Two regions of interest are placed: a reference region in subcutaneous fat (approximately 2x5 mm) and a target region over the trigger point (approximately 3x8 mm). The strain ratio is calculated as the muscle region value divided by the fat region value and is inversely related to tissue stiffness. The mean of three measurements recorded at end-expiration is used.
Baseline, day 3, and end of week 2

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Pamukkale University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Alev ATIGAN, Assistant Professor, Pamukkale University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

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Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
August 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
October 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 24, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 24, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 27, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 24, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • E-60116787-020-916157

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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