El auge de la práctica deportiva ha hecho que se conozca mucho más el kinesiotape o vendaje neuromuscular, el cual surge gracias a la idea de un vendaje elástico que mejorara la función de la musculatura sin limitar los movimientos. Los estudios realizados hasta ahora no siguen criterios metodológicos estandarizados y la efectividad de la técnica está por determinar. Por ello, esta revisión sistemática tuvo como objetivo conocer la eficacia de la aplicación del kinesiotape sobre el tono y fuerza muscular de sujetos sanos. Se revisaron dos bases de datos (PEDro y WOS), encontrando en un principio 196 artículos. Al final se incluyeron 10 artículos (524 sujetos) para el análisis de la calidad metodológica por medio de la escala PEDro. La puntuación media de los artículos en la escala PEDro fue de 6’4 sobre 10 puntos. El 30 % de los artículos incluidos en esta revisión observaron efectos significativos del KT sobre la musculatura. En miembro superior el kinesiotape incrementó la fuerza de prensión y la fuerza de los músculos pectoral mayor e infraespinoso. En el tronco no se observaron resultados significativos. En miembro inferior solo se obtuvieron resultados significativos en los músculos gastrocnemios. Los parámetros de aplicación del kinesiotape en los diferentes estudios fueron heterogéneos. La evidencia sobre la aplicación del kinesiotape en sujetos sanos es contradictoria y el número de estudios con efectos significativos es limitado, por ello son necesarias más investigaciones científicas para determinar la efectividad de esta técnica.

Low back pain has a prevalence that reaches up to 70% of the population between 35-55 years of age and is the principal cause of occupational disability. The scientific evidence on the effect of manual therapy on low back pain is conflicting and there are no specific reviews on the Maitland concept of manual therapy. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review is to analyze the effect of the techniques of the Maitland concept of manual therapy in patients with low back pain and/or determine the level of scientific evidence.For this, a search was carried out in the Cinahl, Medline, Web of Science, PubMed and Scopus databases during the months of January and February 2021 and it was updated in August 2021. In the search, 894 records were obtained, of which 15 randomized clinical trials that obtained a minimum of 3 points out of 5 on the Jadad scale were included.The main results in the current scientific literature suggest that there is solid evidence that the manipulations and mobilizations described in the Maitland Concept, applied alone or in combination with other interventions, reduce pain and disability in subjects with low back pain.The effects on musculature are contradictory. Exercise and patient education increase the effect of manual therapy. Future research requires analyzing whether the effects are preserved in the long term and more homogeneous treatment protocols are needed to determine a prescriptive guideline for manual therapy. Level of evidence I; Systematic review.

Neuromuscular taping or kinesiotaping is a technique widely used in spinal disorders. However, the scientific evidence of its use in discopathies and degenerative spine pathology is unknown. This study aimed to analyze the published clinical trials on neuromuscular taping in subjects with discopathies and degenerative spinal injuries. For this purpose, a literature search was performed following PRISMA guidelines in the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science (WOS), Scopus, Medline, and Cinahl. In analyzing bias and methodological quality, we used: the PEDro scale, Van Tulder criteria, and risk of bias analysis of the Cochrane Collaboration. A total of 5 articles were included that obtained a mean score of 6.2 on the PEDro scale. There is moderate evidence that, in the short term, neuromuscular taping reduces analgesic consumption and improves the range of motion and muscle strength in the posterior musculature. In addition, there is limited evidence that it can improve quality, while the scientific evidence on the effect of neuromuscular taping on pain is contradictory. The application of neuromuscular taping on discopathies and degenerative processes of the spine should be cautiously undertaken until more conclusive results are obtained, and the long-term effects are assessed. Level of evidence I; Systematic review.