Can Kinesio Taping® influence the electromyographic signal intensity of trunk extensor muscles in patients with chronic low back pain? A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: The evidence of the influence of Kinesio Taping ® in changing electromyographic signal intensity of the lumbar musculature in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain (LBP) is very sparse. Objectives: To evaluate if Kinesio Taping ® changes the electromyographic signal intensity of the longissimus and iliocostalis muscles in patients with chronic non-specific LBP. Methods: Prospectively registered, three-arm randomized controlled trial with a blinded assessor. Patients were randomly allocated to the following interventions: 1) Kinesio Taping ® Group (n = 21), where patients received the tape according to the manufacturer's manual; 2) Placebo Group (i.e. normal surgical tape) (n = 21); and 3) Non-treatment control Group (n = 21). Assessments were performed at baseline, immediately after, and 30 min after the intervention. The primary outcome was muscle activity of the iliocostalis and longissimus muscles as measured by surface electromyography. The secondary outcome was pain intensity (measured with a 0---10 Numerical Rating Scale). The effects of treatment were calculated using linear mixed models. Results: A total of 63 patients were recruited. Follow up rate was high (98.4%). Patients were mostly women with moderate levels of pain and disability. Kinesio Taping ® was better than the control and placebo groups in only 4 of 96 statistical comparisons, likely reflective of type I error due to multiple comparisons. No statistically significant differences were identified for the immediate reduction in pain intensity between groups.

Placebo effects in low back pain: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of the literature

“…Fourteen clinical studies aimed at investigating patients with chronic LBP with averages in duration of pain ranging from 4.4 to 15.0 years (Borges et al., 2014 ; Brinkhaus et al., 2006 ; Bush et al., 1985 ; Carvalho et al., 2016 ; Charron et al., 2006 ; Cherkin et al., 2009 ; Degenhardt et al., 2014 ; Eardley et al., 2013 ; Ikemoto et al., 2020 ; Kim et al., 2020 ; Klinger et al., 2017 ; Leibing et al., 2002 ; Pach et al., 2011 ; Pires et al., 2020 ). Of these, 10 were clinical treatment studies comparing placebo interventions to a no‐treatment control (Borges et al., 2014 ; Brinkhaus et al., 2006 ; Bush et al., 1985 ; Cherkin et al., 2009 ; Degenhardt et al., 2014 ; Eardley et al., 2013 ; Kim et al., 2020 ; Leibing et al., 2002 ; Pach et al., 2011 ; Pires et al., 2020 ) and 4 were experimental studies specifically assessing placebo effects (Carvalho et al., 2016 ; Charron et al., 2006 ; Ikemoto et al., 2020 ; Klinger et al., 2017 ). Three clinical treatment studies investigated patients with acute LBP with a duration of less than 3 weeks (Faas et al., 1993 ; Sanders et al., 1990 ; Vas et al., 2012 ), and one study explored patients with subacute and chronic LBP (Bialosky et al., 2014 ).…”

“…Placebo pills twice a day for 12 weeks Clinical pain (intensity): Baseline: NRS placebo; 5.3 (1.9)/NRS control; 5.5 (1.6) Within groups: NRS placebo; DS −0.9 (1.8), −1.1 (1.9)/NRS control; −0.2 (1.8), −0.8 (1.9) Between groups: placebo >control at 3 weeks p =.19, d = 0.38/ at 12 weeks placebo >control F = 1.00, p =.37, η2 = 0.05 Disability: Baseline: RMDQ placebo; 9.9 (3.7)/RMDQ control; 10.3 (4.0) Within groups: RMDQ placebo; −2.2 (2.9)/RMDQ control; −1.4 (3.6) Between groups: at 3 weeks placebo >control; p =.40; d = 0.24 at 12 weeks placebo >control F = 0.82, p =.37, η2 = 0.02 , 1985;Cherkin et al, 2009;Degenhardt et al, 2014;Eardley et al, 2013;Kim et al, 2020;Leibing et al, 2002;Pach et al, 2011;Pires et al, 2020), a total of 9 studies investigated pain intensity and 5 reported a between-group analysis. The analyses of all 5 studies showed no significant differences between the placebo (sham ultrasound, sham manipulation and sham exercise) and no-treatment groups (Bush et al, 1985 T A B L E 1 (Continued) Kim et al, 2020;Pires et al, 2020). However, one of these studies reported raw data that were incongruent with the outcomes of their between-group analysis, and between-group testing by our research group yielded a significant difference (p < .002) favouring sham manipulation over no-treatment with an effect size of SMD = 1.09, 95% CI 0.40 to 1.78 (Eardley et al, 2013).…”

Influence of Kinesio tape on lower limb muscular activity after knee joint rehabilitation program

“…Kinesio taping can be applied to muscles to relieve pain, but several studies indicated a nonsignificant effect of KT on muscle activity. (Pires et al, 2019) (Chang et al, 2015). Although KT is widely used in clinical practice and provides positive effects for decreasing the swelling (Balki, Goktas, & Oztemur, 2016), the current evidence does not support the use of KT (Parreira Pdo, Costa Lda, Hespanhol, Lopes, & Costa, 2014).…”

“…Kinesio taping is considered one of the most common and recent used techniques, where it is used as a therapeutic technique for pain relief (Aghapour, Kamali, & Sinaei, 2017;Chang et al, 2015;Pires et al, 2019), correction of joint position (Wageck et al, 2016), prevention of oedema and injuries, improve range of motion and muscular activity for the individual. In addition to this type of taping has a lot of positive effects, where due to its elasticity (Chang et al, 2015;Kocyigit et al, 2015), skin can be folded and allow more space under the skin that allows good circulation to the injured area and improve performance and strengthening muscles and joints (Chang et al, 2015).…”

Kinesiology Tape: A Descriptive Survey of Healthcare Professionals in the United States

“…88 However, other researchers have reported that KT does facilitate the H-Reflex 89 and shoulder muscle EMG activity 90 among healthy individuals. Researchers have also documented that different tape tension lengths (15-50%) did not produce significant changes in EMG paraspinal muscle activity among individuals with chronic low back pain 91,92 and non-specific low back pain. 93 The research on KT tension length is inconclusive and has been focused more on healthy versus injured participants, which presents a barrier for interpreting the research.…”