Mohamadi M, et al. - The short-term effects of kinesiotaping were compared with friction massage on latent trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle. Outcomes revealed that friction massage and kinesiotaping had identical short-term effects on latent trigger points in the upper trapezius. Three sessions of either of these two interventions did not improve latent trigger points.

Methods

• 58 male students enrolled with a stratified sampling method participated in this single-blind randomized clinical trial in 2016.
• Pressure pain threshold was recorded with a pressure algometer and grip strength was recorded with a Collin dynamometer. 
• The participants were randomly assigned to 2 different treatment groups: kinesiotape or friction massage. 
• Friction massage was performed daily for 3 sessions and kinesiotape was used for 72 h.
• One hour after the last session of friction massage or removal of the kinesiotape, pressure pain threshold and grip strength were evaluated again.

Results

• Pressure pain threshold decreased significantly after both friction massage (2.66 ± 0.89 to 2.25 ± 0.76; P = 0.02) and kinesiotaping (2.00 ± 0.74 to 1.71 ± 0.65; P = 0.01).
• Grip strength increased significantly after friction massage (40.78 ± 9.55 to 42.17 ± 10.68; P = 0.03).
• However, there was no significant change in the kinesiotape group (39.72 ± 6.42 to 40.65 ± 7.3; P = 0.197).
• No significant differences were reported in pressure pain threshold (2.10 ± 0.11 & 1.87 ± 0.11; P = 0.66) or grip strength (42.17 ± 10.68 & 40.65 ± 7.3; P = 0.53) between the two study groups.