The influence of Kinesio taping on muscle fatigue in individuals with low back pain: A randomised controlled trial

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of different taping techniques on back muscle fatigue in people with low back pain.
METHODS: Sixty women with chronic non-specific low back pain were randomly assigned to four groups with 15 in each; control (CG), Kinesio Taping (KT) with tension (KTT), KT no tension (KTNT) and Micropore® (MP), which were applied over the erector spinae muscles. The median frequency (MF) fatigue slopes of the longissimus muscle and sustained contraction time during a trunk fatigue test (Ito test), and pain using the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) were collected at three time points: pre-treatment, three and ten days after intervention at a university laboratory.
RESULTS: Significant differences were seen in the MF slopes between groups (p=0.01, η2=0.20), with the KTT showing a mean difference (MD=0.31, p=0.04) and KTNT (MD= 0.28, p=0.04) compared with CG. Significant reductions in NPRS were seen between time points (p<0.001, η2=0.28), with a reduction between pre and 3 days (MD=1.87, p<0.001), and pre and 10 days (MD=1.38, p<0.001), with KTT and KTNT both showing clinically important changes.
CONCLUSION: KT, with or without tension, has a tendency to reduce back muscle fatigue and reduce pain in individuals with chronic non-specific low back pain.