The goal of this randomized controlled trial was to investigate the effects of kinesio taping and dry needling on sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain due to piriformis muscle tightness among females aged 20 to 50 years. The main research questions it aimed to answer were: Null Hypothesis (H₀): There was no significant difference in the effectiveness of kinesio taping and dry needling on SIJ pain caused by piriformis muscle tightness. Alternate Hypothesis (H₁): There was a significant difference in the effectiveness of kinesio taping and dry needling on SIJ pain caused by piriformis muscle tightness. All study participants provided both written and verbal consent. The research was prospective and randomized. The investigation was conducted on individuals between the ages of 20 and 50 during follow-up visits. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 45 participants were selected. Subjects who agreed to participate were randomly assigned to two groups. Group A received a hot pack, TENS, piriformis simple stretching and isometric exercises, along with kinesio taping. Group B received a hot pack, TENS, simple stretching and isometric exercises, along with dry needling. Piriformis tightness was diagnosed using the Piriformis test, and by assessing hip internal rotation and adduction. Sacroiliac joint pain was detected using the Posterior Pain Provocation Test, Gaenslen's Test, and Patrick's Test. At the beginning of the treatment, all participants underwent pretest measurements using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, Goniometer, Functional Gait Assessment, and Oswestry Disability Index.
All research participants were fully informed about the goals, duration, treatment protocols used within the boundaries of the study, any potential side effects, and concerns that could arise. All study participants provided both written and verbal consent. The research was prospective and randomized. The investigation was conducted on individuals between the ages of 20 and 50 during follow-up visits. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 45 participants were selected. Subjects who intended to participate were randomly assigned to two groups. Group A received hot packs, TENS, piriformis simple stretching and isometrics, along with the use of kinesio taping. Group B received hot packs, TENS, simple stretching and isometrics, along with the use of dry needling. Piriformis tightness was diagnosed using the Piriformis test, and by assessing hip internal rotation and adduction, whereas sacroiliac joint pain was detected using the Posterior Pain Provocation Test, Gaenslen's Test, and Patrick's Test. At the beginning of the treatment, all participants underwent pretest measurements using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, Goniometer, Functional Gait Assessment, and Oswestry Disability Index.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
88
Patients in Group A was treated with a hot pack, TENS, simple piriformis stretch, and isometrics, along with kinesio taping. Kinesio tape was applied directly to the muscle with 50% stretching.During the treatment, kinesio tape will be applied to the patients twice a week, eight times in total.
Patients in Group B was treated with a hot pack, TENS, simple piriformis stretch, and isometrics, along with dry needling.During the treatment, dry needling was applied to the patients twice a week, eight times in total.
Sehat Medical Complex
Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS):
The NPRS was used to quantify pain intensity through an 11-point numeric continuum. Individuals are prompted to assess their pain levels within a range from 0 (indicating an absence of pain) to 10 (representing the most extreme imaginable pain)
Time frame: 2 Weeks
Goniometer:
The UG which has a transparent plastic 360° face, two movable arms, and a 1° gradation was used.
Time frame: 2 weeks
Functional Gait Assessment (FGA)
The instrument consists of 10-items: gait level surface, changes in gait speed, gait with horizontal head turns, gait with vertical head turns, gait and pivot turn, step over obstacles, gait with narrow base of support, gait with eyes closed, ambulating backwards, and steps. Each item was demonstrated to the participants by one of the raters to facilitate understanding and will graded on a four-point ordinal scale ranging from 0 (severe impairment), 1 (moderate impairment), 2 (mild impairment), to 3 (normal), with a maximum score of 30 points. The higher the score, the better the participant's postural stability during gait.
Time frame: 2 weeks
Oswestry Disability Index (ODI):
The ODI is a questionnaire containing 10 items covering disability caused by low back pain. Each item was assessed on a six-level ordinal scale with '0' describing 'no limitation' and '5' describing 'extreme limitation or an inability to function'. The total score is a percentage calculated by the sum of all answers divided by 50 (the maximum possible number of points) and multiplied by 100 as follows: 'Total score = (∑item scores/50) x 100'.
Time frame: 2 weeks
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