Immediate and Short-Term Effects of Kinesio Taping Tightness in Mechanical Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Background There is controversy regarding the best technique for applying Kinesio Taping (KT), and the theory supporting that skin convolutions may explain its efficacy has recently been challenged. Objective To compare the immediate and short-term effectiveness of KT tightness on mechanosensitivity and spinal mobility in nonspecific low back pain (LBP), and to observe the influence of gender in the outcome measures. Design Double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Setting University-based clinical research center. Participants A total of 75 individuals with a mean age of 33 years (±7.4 years), 60% female and 40% male, with nonspecific LBP were recruited and randomly assigned to 1 of the following study groups: standard KT tension (n = 26), increased KT tension (n = 25), and no KT tension (n = 24). Interventions All participants received a two I-strip taping over the paravertebral muscles for 24 hours. Paper-off tension (15%-25% of the available stretch) was used in the standard KT group, which was increased to 40% in the increased KT tension group. The rest of participants received a taping procedure with no KT tension. Measurements were taken at baseline, immediately after the taping, 24 hours after the taping, and after KT removal. Main Outcome Measures The primary outcome included pressure pain thresholds over the erector spinae and gluteus medius muscles. The secondary outcome was lumbar mobility (assessed with a digital inclinometer, and back-saver sit-and-reach, finger-to-floor, and sit-and-reach tests). Results In the between-groups analysis of the mean score changes after baseline assessment, no significant differences were found for any of the outcome measures ( P > .05) except the left back-saver sit-and-reach test ( P = .03). A statistically significant interaction group × gender × time was observed only for mechanosensitivity values ( P = .02 for the gluteus and P = .01 for the erector spinae). Conclusion KT tightness does not seem to influence pain sensitivity and lumbar mobility in chronic LBP in either the immediate or short term. Level of Evidence II