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Observational Study
. 2022 Dec 14;31(1):20.
doi: 10.1007/s00520-022-07497-2.

Effects of esters' cetylated fatty acids taping for chronic neck pain with mobility deficit in patients with breast cancer

Rosanna Izzo  1 , Mariasole Rossato  2 , Germano Tarantino  2 , Nicola Mascolo  3 , Mauro Puleio  4
Affiliations
Observational Study

Effects of esters' cetylated fatty acids taping for chronic neck pain with mobility deficit in patients with breast cancer

Rosanna Izzo et al. Support Care Cancer. .

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of a protocol treatment based on inelastic adhesive tape with cetylated fatty acids (CFAs) esters in breast cancer survivors with chronic neck pain.

Methods: In this observational study, patients have been visited for chronic neck pain using numeric rating scale (NRS) for pain assessment, Neck Disability Index (NDI) for disability caused by neck pain, and range of movement (ROM) measures for cervical mobility. Scales have been performed at T0, after 15 days of treatment (T1) and successively after 15 days of stop treatment (T2). Patients have been treated with an inelastic adhesive tape with CFA esters (Cetilar® Tape, Pharmanutra Spa, Italy) positioned, 8 h/day for 15 days, on specific anatomic sites (upper trapezius, paravertebral cervical muscles, sub-occipitals, and/or levator scapulae muscles).

Results: Forty-five patients were included in the study. A statistically significant reduction in pain has been reported from T0 to T1 and maintained at T2 (p < 0.05); a statistically significant improvement in the mobility of the cervical spine, as evidenced by ROMs, and in disability, as resulted by Neck Disability Index, have been reported from T0 to T1 and maintained at T2; moreover, ROM at T0 correlates inversely and statistically significantly with NRS and all NDI variables at T0, similarly at T1 and T2 (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: CFA ester taping is a simple, effective, and side-effect-free treatment in order to reduce pain and improve cervical mobility in breast cancer survivors with chronic neck pain.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Cetylated fatty acids; Neck pain; Rehabilitation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
a Tape placed on the paravertebral muscles of the neck. b Tape placed on the upper trapezius muscle. c Tape placed on sub-occipitals and levator scapulae muscles
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Study flow-chart: from a total of 62 patients visited between September and December 2021, 45 were recruited in the study
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Disability neck index (NDI) at T0, T1, and T2: results distributed in minimal disability (0–20%), moderate (21–40%), severe (41–60%), disabling (61–80%), bedridden (81–100%)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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