The effect of chiropractic manipulation combined with dynamic taping of the cervical spine in the treatment of chronic mechanical neck pain

M.Tech. (Chiropractic)Abstract: Introduction: Chronic mechanical neck pain is very common among individuals and can negatively affect their daily activities, disrupt them in the work place, occur during social activities, during exercising and even cause disrupted or decreased sleep. Cervical manipulation has proven very effective in treating this type of neck pain and restoring optimal joint function. Dynamic tape, which is one of the many different types of taping, has been specifically designed to decrease the load placed on the joints and the muscles of a region during motion. There is much research confirming the effectiveness of manipulation of the cervical spine however, there is limited or no research on the effectiveness of dynamic tape in the treatment of chronic mechanical neck pain. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effect on pain, disability and range of motion, of dynamic taping, chiropractic manipulative therapy, and a combination of both in the treatment of chronic mechanical neck pain. Method: This study was a comparative study consisting of three groups of ten participants, males and females between the ages of 18-55 years. Participants who have met the requirements (inclusion/exclusion criteria) were, through random allocation, placed into one of 3 groups until group saturation. The first group received only cervical spine manipulative therapy, the second group only dynamic taping applied to offload the cervical spine, and the third group received a combination of both cervical manipulation and dynamic taping. Procedure: This study consisted of seven consultations, six of which involved treatment, over a three-week period. On the first to the sixth consultations the treatments were received, with subjective and objective readings taken prior to the first and fourth consultations. The seventh consultation consisted of readings only and no treatment. The subjective data was collected by means of the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and the Vernon-Mior Neck Pain and Disability Index (NPDI). The objective data was collected by examining cervical spine range of motion in degrees by using a cervical range of motion device (CROM). All data collected was analysed by STATKON of UJ, the results then given back to the researcher for interpretation and presentation. Results: The data analysis clearly showed that all three treatment protocols were effective in decreasing chronic mechanical neck pain as well as neck disability and in increasing cervical spine range of motion. In terms of subjective data, group C responded the best clinically with the greatest percentage decrease..