Systematic Review of Lumbar Elastic Tape on Trunk Mobility: A Debatable Issue

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Rehabilitation Science
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Lumbar elastic tape is increasingly used for low back pain.
• Its effectiveness on trunk mobility remains unclear.
• Variations in application technique (tension, direction) may influence outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review literature on lumbar elastic tape's effect on trunk mobility.
• To assess if effects surpass minimal detectable change.
• To analyze the impact of tension and direction in various populations.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, PEDro, Google Scholar).
• Inclusion of randomized controlled trials evaluating lumbar elastic tape for trunk mobility.
• Exclusion of studies with low methodological quality (PEDro score ≤5).

Main Results:

• Eight studies were included (5 with low back pain, 3 without).
• No significant trunk mobility changes exceeded minimal detectable change.
• Insufficient data to conclude on the effects of tape tension or direction.

Conclusions:

• Current evidence does not support the use of lumbar elastic tape for improving trunk mobility.
• Further research requires consensus on validated and reliable measurement tools.