Introduction: This research aimed to compare two methods of kinesiotaping

and stretching of upper trapezius muscle in treatment of neck pain due to

forward head posture.

Research Methods: Design of this research was semi-experimental. 36

subjects (29 female and 7 men) with forward head posture between 20-40 years

of age with no history of neck pain due to vertebral fracture, disc herniation,

tumors, radicular pain to hands and arthritis rheumatoid were selected for this

research and assigned randomly into 2 groups with 18 subjects. One group

received kinesiotaping treatment and the other group received stretching upper

trapezius muscle treatment. Subjects received 10 treatment sessions 3 times

per week. All subjects completed visual analog scale (VAS) and neck disability

index (NDI) pre and post-tests. The data were analyzed with significant level of

p≤0/05. Data were analyzed by SPSS 15. Statistical paired t- test were used to

analyze effects of kinesiotaping and stretching of upper trapezius muscle in

reduction of neck pain and disability due to forward head posture in each group

and independent t- test were used to compare the kinesiotaping with stretching

of upper trapezius muscle in reduction of neck pain and disability due to forward

head posture.

Results: The results of the present research indicated that there is a significant

reduction in severity of neck pain and disability in both groups (P<0.05), But

there is no significant difference between two groups in severity of neck pain

and disability (P>0.05).

Conclusion: This research showed that either kinesiotaping or stretching of

upper trapezius muscle reduced severity of neck pain and disability due to

trigger points of upper trapezius muscle significantly. Also findings of this

research showed that there is no significant difference between kinesiotaping or

stretching of upper trapezius muscle in reduction of severity of neck pain and

disability. Therefore kinesiotaping can be used in case of vigorous pain either in

patient under other treatment methods or in patient who cannot tolerate

techniques like stretching or ischemic pressure until tolerable pain threshold.