Kinesiology Taping Versus Self-Mobilization for Neck Pain Related to Prolonged Electronic Device Use

Effects of Kinesiology Taping Versus Self-Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glide Mobilization on Pain, Neck Disability, Cervical Proprioception, Respiratory Muscle Strength, and Upper Trapezius Muscle Activity in Individuals With Neck Pain Related to Prolonged Electronic Device Use: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether kinesiology taping or self-mobilization better reduces neck pain in adults who use electronic devices for long periods each day. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does kinesiology taping or self-mobilization lead to greater reduction in neck pain after 4 weeks?
• Do the two treatments differ in their effects on neck-related disability, neck position sense, breathing muscle strength, and upper trapezius muscle activity?

Researchers will compare kinesiology taping with self-sustained natural apophyseal glide (self-SNAG) mobilization to see which approach is more effective.

Participants will:

• Be randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups
• Receive kinesiology tape applied to the back of the neck every 4 days for 4 weeks, or learn and perform a towel-assisted neck self-mobilization exercise for 4 weeks
• Receive education on posture and self-management
• Complete assessments of pain, neck disability, neck position sense, breathing muscle strength, and neck-shoulder muscle activity at the start of the study, after 4 weeks, and 1 month later

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Neck Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Kinesiology Taping; Other: Self-SNAG Mobilization

Detailed Description

Prolonged use of electronic devices is associated with sustained cervical flexion and altered activation of the cervicoscapular musculature, particularly the upper trapezius. Kinesiology taping and Mulligan self-mobilization are commonly used conservative approaches; however, their comparative effects on pain, cervical proprioception, respiratory muscle strength, and muscle activity in this population remain unclear.

In this single-blind, two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial, adults with neck pain (VAS > 3/10) and a history of electronic device use of at least 4 hours per day during the preceding year will be randomized to kinesiology taping (8 applications over 4 weeks) or self-SNAG mobilization performed with mirror-based visual feedback. Both groups will receive standardized education on posture and self-management.

Bilateral upper trapezius surface electromyography will be recorded during isometric shoulder elevation using a wireless sEMG system, with electrode placement according to SENIAM guidelines, and normalized to maximum voluntary isometric contraction. A bilateral upper trapezius EMG asymmetry index will be derived from the normalized right- and left-side values.

Primary and secondary outcomes will be analyzed using linear mixed-effects models with random intercepts for participants. As a pre-specified secondary analysis, the association between baseline bilateral upper trapezius EMG asymmetry and change in pain intensity will be examined, including its interaction with treatment group.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 27
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Emrah Zirek Assistant Professor, Ph. D.; Phone Number: +905446457700; Email: ezirek@bingol.edu.tr

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Bingöl
    • Bingoel, Bingöl, Turkey (Türkiye), 12000
      • Recruiting
      • Bingol University, Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18 years or older
• Neck pain with an intensity greater than 3 on a 10-point Visual Analog Scale
• Use of electronic devices for at least 4 hours per day during the preceding year
• Willingness to participate and provision of written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cervical or shoulder surgery within the past 6 months
• Previously diagnosed cervical pathology, including whiplash-associated disorder, cervical spondylolisthesis, disc herniation, or rheumatoid arthritis
• Current use of analgesics, opioids, or corticosteroids
• Skin allergy, open wounds, or skin lesions in the cervical region that preclude kinesiology tape application

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Kinesiology Taping; Participants receive kinesiology tape (5 cm wide, 0.5 mm thick, water-resistant) applied to the posterior cervical region in a seated neutral position. A Y-strip is applied over the cervical extensors from T1-T2 to C1-C2 with approximately 25% tension, and a second strip is applied perpendicularly across C3-C6. The tape is reapplied every 4 days by a trained physiotherapist for a total of 8 applications over 4 weeks. Participants also receive standardized education on posture and self-management.	Device: Kinesiology Taping; Elastic therapeutic tape applied to the posterior cervical region (Y-strip over the cervical extensors with approximately 25% tension and a perpendicular strip across C3-C6), reapplied every 4 days for 8 applications over 4 weeks.
Active Comparator: Self-SNAG Mobilization; Participants are trained by an experienced physiotherapist to perform towel-assisted self-administered sustained natural apophyseal glide (self-SNAG) mobilization at the C5 level, with mirror-based visual feedback. The end-range rotation position is sustained for 3 seconds, with 10 repetitions per session within a pain-free range, [frequency, e.g., once daily] for 4 weeks. Participants also receive standardized education on posture and self-management.	Other: Self-SNAG Mobilization; Towel-assisted self-administered sustained natural apophyseal glide at C5 with mirror-based visual feedback, 10 repetitions per session with 3-second end-range holds, performed over 4 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Neck Pain Intensity (Visual Analog Scale)	Neck pain intensity is assessed using a 10-point Visual Analog Scale (0 = no pain, 10 = worst imaginable pain). Higher scores indicate greater pain.	Baseline and week 4 (end of intervention)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Neck-Related Disability (Neck Disability Index)	Self-reported neck-related disability is assessed using the 10-item Neck Disability Index (total score 0-50). Higher scores indicate greater disability.	Baseline, week 4, and week 8
Change in Cervical Joint Position Sense Error	Cervical joint position sense error is measured in centimeters using a head-mounted laser pointer and a target placed 90 cm from the seated participant, following active cervical flexion, extension, and left and right rotation. The mean deviation across five repetitions per direction is recorded. Higher values indicate poorer proprioceptive accuracy.	Baseline, week 4, and week 8
Change in Upper Trapezius Muscle Activity (Surface Electromyography)	Bilateral upper trapezius activity is recorded with wireless surface electromyography during isometric shoulder elevation (three 7-second contractions) and expressed as root-mean-square amplitude normalized to maximum voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC).	Baseline, week 4, and week 8
Bilateral Upper Trapezius EMG Asymmetry Index	EMG asymmetry is calculated from normalized right- and left-side upper trapezius activity as |Right - Left| / [(Right + Left) / 2] x 100. A value of 0% indicates perfect symmetry; higher values indicate greater bilateral imbalance. Baseline asymmetry will be examined as a predictor of change in pain intensity.	Baseline, week 4, and week 8

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
• Collaborators: Bingol University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 3, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 13, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 11, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 11, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): October 16, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 4, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 2, 2026
• Last Verified: November 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Respiratory Muscle Strength; Surface Electromyography; Upper Trapezius; Mulligan Mobilization; Electronic Device Use; Joint Position Sense; Kinesiology Tape; Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glide
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Neck Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: BINGOL-7-5

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be shared publicly. De-identified data may be made available from the principal investigator upon reasonable request.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No