Multimodal management of lateral epicondylalgia in rock climbers: a prospective case series.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this prospective case series was to describe the outcomes of a set of rock climbers with lateral epicondylalgia (LE) treated with manual therapy directed at the cervical spine, elbow, and wrist as well as trigger point (TrP) dry needling and kinesio tape. METHODS: Nine consecutive rock climbers presenting to physical therapy with a diagnosis of LE were included. At baseline, all patients completed the Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation and underwent pain pressure threshold testing over the extensor carpi radialis, extensor carpi brevis, brachioradialis, and supinator muscles at baseline, after the third visit (week 3), and at 2-month follow-up. Treatment included manipulation of the cervical spine, mobilization with movement directed at the elbow, manipulation of the wrist, TrP dry needling, and kinesio tape. RESULTS: Of the 9 subjects who participated in this study, 3 were women (33%), and the mean duration of symptoms was 3 weeks, with an SD of 1.7 weeks (median, 2 weeks; range, 1-6 weeks). There was an improvement in all outcome measures at both the final visit and 2-month follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: This group of rock climbers with LE who were conservatively managed with a treatment approach consisting of cervical spine manipulation, mobilization directed at the elbow and wrist, and TrP dry needling as well as kinesio tape exhibited clinical improvement.

Short-term effects of cervical kinesio taping on pain and cervical range of motion in patients with acute whiplash injury: a randomized clinical trial.

DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. OBJECTIVES: To determine the short-term effects of Kinesio Taping, applied to the cervical spine, on neck pain and cervical range of motion in individuals with acute whiplash-associated disorders (WADs). BACKGROUND: Researchers have begun to investigate the effects of Kinesio Taping on different musculoskeletal conditions (eg, shoulder and trunk pain). Considering the demonstrated short-term effectiveness of Kinesio Tape for the management of shoulder pain, it is suggested that Kinesio Tape may also be beneficial in reducing pain associated with WAD. METHODS AND MEASURES: Forty-one patients (21 females) were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups: the experimental group received Kinesio Taping to the cervical spine (applied with tension) and the placebo group received a sham Kinesio Taping application (applied without tension). Both neck pain (11-point numerical pain rating scale) and cervical range-of-motion data were collected at baseline, immediately after the Kinesio Tape application, and at a 24-hour follow-up by an assessor blinded to the treatment allocation of the patients. Mixed-model analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were used to examine the effects of the treatment on each outcome variable, with group as the between-subjects variable and time as the within-subjects variable. The primary analysis was the group-by-time interaction. RESULTS: The group-by-time interaction for the 2-by-3 mixed-model ANOVA was statistically significant for pain as the dependent variable (F = 64.8; P<.001), indicating that patients receiving Kinesio Taping experienced a greater decrease in pain immediately postapplication and at the 24-hour follow-up (both, P<.001). The group-by-time interaction was also significant for all directions of cervical range of motion: flexion (F = 50.8; P<.001), extension (F = 50.7; P<.001), right (F = 39.5; P<.001) and left (F = 3.8, P<.05) lateral flexion, and right (F = 33.9, P<.001) and left (F = 39.5, P<.001) rotation. Patients in the experimental group obtained a greater improvement in range of motion than thosein the control group (all, P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: 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. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapy, level 1b. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2009;39(7):515-521, Epub 24 February 2009. doi:10.2519/jospt.2009.3072.