“Individuals with neck and shoulder pain may experience tightened lumps or knots in and around the muscles where the neck and shoulder meet. Can using kinesiology tape for neck and shoulder trigger points help to loosen and release them, restore function, and relieve pain?”

Kinesiology Tape: Guide to Relieving Neck and Shoulder Pain

Kinesiology Tape For Neck and Shoulder Trigger Points

The upper trapezius and levator scapula muscles are where the shoulder and neck come together and are often the location of trigger point formations. These trigger points can cause tension, pain, and muscular spasms in the neck and shoulders. Various treatments for releasing trigger points and alleviating the pain symptoms include therapeutic massage, trigger point release, and chiropractic adjustments in a multidisciplinary treatment approach.

  • Electrical stimulation and ultrasound have often been used to break up the knots, but scientific evidence has shown that these treatments alone are not the most effective. (David O. Draper et al., 2010)
  • Stretching the neck muscles can bring tension relief and help release the knots.
  • Practicing healthy postures helps avoid and prevent symptoms. (Cleveland Clinic. 2019)
  • Kinesiology tape can decrease the pain and spasms and help to release the trigger points.

Therapy

Using kinesiology tape is a form of physical therapy that can be used in various ways.

  • The tape helps lift the upper tissues from underlying tissues to increase circulation and release muscular spasms.
  • It can help improve muscular contractions, decrease swelling, and inhibit pain in injured tissues.
  • Helps stop the trigger points and knots from worsening.
  • The tape can also be used for managing lymphedema.

Usage

To decrease trigger points, individuals can use a specific kinesiology tape strip called a lift strip. Individuals can consult their healthcare provider or physical therapist to show them the various types of strips to learn how to cut them properly.

  • Before using kinesiology tape, consult a healthcare provider or physical therapist to assess the injury and situation.
  • Kinesiology tape is not for everyone, and some people have conditions where the use of kinesiology tape should be avoided altogether.
  • A therapist can evaluate the neck pain and trigger points to determine if the individual should use kinesiology tape.

To use kinesiology tape for neck and shoulder trigger points:

  1. Get comfortable with the neck and shoulders exposed.
  2. Cut one lift strip for each side of the neck, if necessary.
  3. The lift strip should be around 3 to 4 inches long.
  4. Remove the paper backing in the center with the exposed tape in the center, which should look like a band-aid.
  5. Both ends of the lift strip should still have the paper backing on.
  6. Stretch out the kinesiology tape.
  7. Place the stretched tape directly over the trigger points in the upper shoulder area.
  8. Remove the backing on either side of the lift strip and place the ends on without stretching.
  9. Gently rub the tape to help the adhesive adhere.
  • Once the tape has been applied, it can be left there for 2 to 5 days.
  • It’s ok if it gets wet with a bath or shower.
  • Monitor the skin around the tape to watch for redness or other signs of a negative reaction to the tape.
  • Kinesiology taping can be a useful tool to decrease pain and spasms but does not replace professional treatment, prescribed exercises and stretches, and posture retraining.
  • The physical therapy team will teach proper self-care strategies for the individual’s condition.
  • For individuals with neck and shoulder pain and muscle spasms, a trial of kinesiology taping may help alleviate symptoms and improve the overall injury.

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References

Draper, D. O., Mahaffey, C., Kaiser, D., Eggett, D., & Jarmin, J. (2010). Thermal ultrasound decreases tissue stiffness of trigger points in upper trapezius muscles. Physiotherapy theory and practice, 26(3), 167–172. doi.org/10.3109/09593980903423079

Cleveland Clinic. (2019). Knots in Your Neck? How to Try a Trigger Point Massage to Release Them.

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The information herein on "Kinesiology Tape: Guide to Relieving Neck and Shoulder Pain" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

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Specialties: Stopping the PAIN! We Specialize in Treating Severe Sciatica, Neck-Back Pain, Whiplash, Headaches, Knee Injuries, Sports Injuries, Dizziness, Poor Sleep, Arthritis. We use advanced proven therapies focused on optimal Mobility, Posture Control, Deep Health Instruction, Integrative & Functional Medicine, Functional Fitness, Chronic Degenerative Disorder Treatment Protocols, and Structural Conditioning. We also integrate Wellness Nutrition, Wellness Detoxification Protocols and Functional Medicine for chronic musculoskeletal disorders. We use effective "Patient Focused Diet Plans", Specialized Chiropractic Techniques, Mobility-Agility Training, Cross-Fit Protocols, and the Premier "PUSH Functional Fitness System" to treat patients suffering from various injuries and health problems. Ultimately, I am here to serve my patients and community as a Chiropractor passionately restoring functional life and facilitating living through increased mobility. Purpose & Passions: I am a Doctor of Chiropractic specializing in progressive cutting-edge therapies and functional rehabilitation procedures focused on clinical physiology, total health, functional strength training, functional medicine, and complete conditioning. We focus on restoring normal body functions after neck, back, spinal and soft tissue injuries. We use Specialized Chiropractic Protocols, Wellness Programs, Functional & Integrative Nutrition, Agility & Mobility Fitness Training and Cross-Fit Rehabilitation Systems for all ages. As an extension to dynamic rehabilitation, we too offer our patients, disabled veterans, athletes, young and elder a diverse portfolio of strength equipment, high-performance exercises and advanced agility treatment options. We have teamed up with the cities' premier doctors, therapist and trainers in order to provide high-level competitive athletes the options to push themselves to their highest abilities within our facilities. We've been blessed to use our methods with thousands of El Pasoans over the last 3 decades allowing us to restore our patients' health and fitness while implementing researched non-surgical methods and functional wellness programs. Our programs are natural and use the body's ability to achieve specific measured goals, rather than introducing harmful chemicals, controversial hormone replacement, un-wanted surgeries, or addictive drugs. We want you to live a functional life that is fulfilled with more energy, a positive attitude, better sleep, and less pain. Our goal is to ultimately empower our patients to maintain the healthiest way of living. With a bit of work, we can achieve optimal health together, no matter the age, ability or disability.