Kinesio taping for chronic low back pain: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Physiotherapy
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Chronic low back pain (CLBP) presents a significant global health challenge.
• Kinesio taping (KT) has emerged as a potential intervention for chronic pain management.
• This systematic review is the first to specifically evaluate KT's effects on CLBP.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the efficacy of KT for CLBP.
• To synthesize current evidence regarding KT's impact on pain and functional outcomes in CLBP patients.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, and Science Direct.
• Keywords included "Kinesiology taping," "kinesio taping," and "chronic low back pain."
• Five RCTs with 306 participants met the inclusion criteria; methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro Scale.

Main Results:

• Moderate evidence indicates KT is not superior to conventional physical therapy or exercise for pain and disability.
• Insufficient evidence supports KT's superiority over sham taping for pain and disability.
• Limited evidence suggests KT may improve range of motion (ROM) and global perceived effect (GPE) short-term.

Conclusions:

• Kinesio taping (KT) is not a standalone treatment for chronic low back pain (CLBP).
• KT may be beneficial as an adjunctive therapy, potentially enhancing ROM, muscular endurance, and motor control.
• Further high-quality research is needed to clarify KT's role in managing CLBP long-term.