The impact of kinesiotaping on functional respiratory outcome in chest injuries-a pilot randomized trial

Kinesiotaping (KT) is used as adjunctive therapy for musculoskeletal injuries to relieve pain, improve blood and lymphatic circulation and muscle and fascial function, provide joint support, and promote proprioception.

In this pilot randomized trial, we compared the differences between a group that received KT in addition to standard respiratory physiotherapy and a group that received standard respiratory physiotherapy only. We examined changes in pain intensity and functional respiratory parameters at study entry and on the first day after study enrolment and assessed the functional status of patients 10 days after study enrolment.

Thirty-four patients with isolated unilateral rib injuries (less than five ribs) participated in the study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. In the study group (SG), KT was applied, and both SG and the control group (CG) performed breathing exercises. Spirometry was used to measure functional respiratory parameters and visual analogue scale (VAS) and algometry were used to measure pain intensity immediately after the application of KT and breathing exercises/breathing exercises only (in SG and CG respectively) and on the day after enrolment in both groups. The functional status of patients was assessed 10 days after enrolment using EQ-5D questionnaire.

There was no improvement in respiratory parameters between groups. There was no influence of KT on pain, both measured with VAS and algometry. Variance analysis suggests a possibility of good and poor responders to KT.

The use of KT in patients with isolated unilateral rib injuries in this pilot study had no effect on functional respiratory parameters nor on perception of pain.