Effect of manual therapy versus kinesio taping on tension-type headache in Jouf University female students: A randomized controlled trial

Authors

  • Rokaia A Toson Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Saudi Arabia.
  • Kadi Alanazi Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Saudi Arabia.
  • Malak Alruwaili Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Saudi Arabia.
  • Reem Alruwaili Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Saudi Arabia.
  • Weaam Almalki Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Saudi Arabia.
  • Zeinab A. Ali Department of Physical Therapy for Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt.
  • Hadeel Alsirhani Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Saudi Arabia.
  • Nesma M. Allam Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Saudi Arabia / Department of Physical Therapy for Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt.
  • Shaimaa M. A. Elsayeh Department of Physical Therapy for Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt.
  • Sara S. Youssef Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Aqaba University of Technology, Aqaba, Jordan.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6018/sportk.671411
Keywords: Manual Therapy, Kinesio Taping, Relaxation Exercises, Tension-type Headache, University Students

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of manual therapy versus Kinesio taping (KT) in treating tension-type headaches (TTH) as they are the most common complaint among university students, significantly impacting their academic performance. A randomized controlled study was conducted, including 45 female students. They were 18-25 years, divided into three groups. The first group (Manual therapy) received manual therapy and relaxation training, the second group (KT) received KT every 72 hours and relaxation exercises while the third group (Control) received relaxation exercises, all for three times/week for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for headache intensity. The secondary measure was the HIT-6 to evaluate the impact of TTH. Post-treatment, all three groups showed a significant reduction in VAS scores compared to pre-treatment (p<0.05). HIT-6 scores significantly decreased in the manual therapy and KT groups (p<0.05), whereas the control group showed no significant change (p>0.05). Additionally, the manual therapy group showed a significantly greater reduction in VAS scores compared to the KT group (p<0.05), although no discernible change was observed in HIT-6 scores (p>0.05). Both manual therapy and KT are useful for treating TTH. However, manual treatment alleviates pain intensity more effectively.

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Published
14-07-2025
How to Cite
Toson, R. A., Alanazi, K., Alruwaili, M., Alruwaili, R., Almalki, W., Ali, Z. A., … Youssef, S. S. (2025). Effect of manual therapy versus kinesio taping on tension-type headache in Jouf University female students: A randomized controlled trial. SPORT TK-EuroAmerican Journal of Sport Sciences, 14, 63. https://doi.org/10.6018/sportk.671411
Issue
Vol. 14 (2025)
Section
Articles

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The works and papers that are published in this Journal are subject to the following terms:

1. The Publication Service of the University of Murcia (the publisher) has the Publication Rights (Copyright) to the published papers and works, and favors and permits the reusing of the same under the license indicated in point 2.

© Servicio de Publicaciones, Universidad de Murcia, 2013

2. The papers and works are to be published in the digital edition of the Journal under the license Creative Commons Reconocimiento-No Comercial-Sin Obra Derivada 3.0 España (legal text). The copying, using, spreading, transmitting and publicly displaying of the papers, works or publication are permitted as long as: i) the authors and original sources (Journal, publisher and URL of the publication) are quoted; ii) it is not used for commercial benefit; iii) the existence and specifications of this users license are mentioned.

3. Conditions of Self-Archiving. It is permitted and encouraged that the authors spread electronically the pre-print (before printing) and/or post-print (the revised, evaluated and accepted) versions of their papers or works before their publication since this favors their circulation and early diffusion and therefore can help increase their citation and quotation, and also there reach through the academic community.