Comparative efficacy of kinesiotaping and stretching on sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius muscles in patients suffering from myofascial pain due to temporomandibular joint disorder

Aim: During the recent past, the big role of various techniques of physiotherapy in the management of various pain syndromes has been recognized. This study determined the effects of kinesiotaping and stretching on pain, cervical joint range of motion and functional status in patients with myofascial pain due to temporomandibular joint disorder. Methodology: We enrolled 33 patients with myofascial pain due to temporomandibular joint disorder in the study. The patients were divided into three groups; Group K received kinesiotaping, while Group S received stretching exercises, of the sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius muscles. Patients in the Groups K and S received application twice a week for two weeks. No application was made to the control group (Group C). Cervical joint range of motion, muscle strength, pain, algometry tests and functional evaluation were repeated three times. Results: The groups were homogeneous in terms of demographics and the evaluated parameters at the beginning of the study (P > 0.05). In the Groups K and S, positive improvements were achieved in visual analog scale, algometry results, distance of mandibular depression, results of Patient Health Questionnaire and Jaw Functional Limitation Scale after treatment (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Kinesiotaping and stretching on sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius muscles were found to have equivalent effects in reducing pain, increasing mouth opening and functionality in patients suffering from myofascial pain due to temporomandibular joint disorder. Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT05481268 Abbreviations: JKLS: Jaw Functional Limitation Scale, PHQ: Patient Health Questionnaire, RDC/TMD: Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders, SCM: Sternocleidomastoid, TMD: Temporomandibular disorder, TMJ: Temporomandibular joint, VAS: Visual Analog Scale Citation: Baykan O, Narin S, Akar GC. Comparative efficacy of kinesiotaping and stretching on sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius muscles in patients suffering from myofascial pain due to temporomandibular joint disorder. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2022;26(5):695-701. DOI: 10.35975/apic.v26i4.2033