Effect of Kinesio Taping Application in Addition to Pilates Exercises on Core Muscle Thickness, Cognition and Mental Fatigue in Individuals With Non-specific Low Back Pain

July 17, 2026 updated by: Ilayda Dilan Isik, Istanbul Saglik Bilimleri University

Effect of Kinesio Taping Application in Addition to Pilates Exercises on Core Muscle Thickness, Cognition and Mental Fatigue in Individuals With Non-specific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study

Low back pain is a common problem. In low back pain, the core region and posture are frequently affected. However, no definitive decision has been reached regarding cognition and mental fatigue. In the treatment of low back pain, exercise and kinesio taping approaches are frequently used. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of kinesio taping applied in addition to pilates exercises on pain, core muscle thickness, strength and endurance, posture, cognition and mental fatigue in individuals with non-specific low back pain and to compare it with placebo taping and the control group. The primary outcome measure of this study is core muscle thickness, while other measurements will be considered as secondary outcomes.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
54

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
      • Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye)
        • Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi
    • Çankaya
      • Ankara, Çankaya, Turkey (Türkiye)
        • GYM Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • • Having back pain of at least 3 out of 10 points on the Visual Analog Scale,

    • Being between the ages of 30-55,
    • Having back pain for at least 1 month,
    • Having been tested with a test piece beforehand and not having an allergy to kinesio taping.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • • Having had surgery for back pain,

    • Not complying with treatment,
    • Having a neurological deficit,
    • Having a body mass index over 30,
    • Having a positive straight leg raising test,
    • Having a positive slump test,
    • Having a positive bowstring test,
    • Being pregnant,
    • Having received any treatment for back pain in the last month,
    • Doing regular exercise in the last month.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Kinesio Tape and Pilates Group
Kinesio taping will be applied to this group in addition to the Pilates exercise protocol.
Other: Kinesio Tape
Kinesio tape is a non-invasive therapeutic approach that does not involve any medication. It is often used to support tissue and reduce pain.
Other: Pilates
Pilates exercises are mind-body exercises that are performed on a mat or with special equipment and focus on strength, core stability, flexibility, muscle control, posture and breathing. Pilates exercises are frequently used to develop elements such as core stability, muscle flexibility and strength, physical fitness and body awareness.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo Tape and Pilates Group
Flaster taping will be applied to this group in addition to the Pilates exercise protocol.
Other: Pilates
Pilates exercises are mind-body exercises that are performed on a mat or with special equipment and focus on strength, core stability, flexibility, muscle control, posture and breathing. Pilates exercises are frequently used to develop elements such as core stability, muscle flexibility and strength, physical fitness and body awareness.
Other: Placebo
Placebo taping will be applied in the same way as kinesio taping, but with plaster tape.
Other: Pilates Group
Only the Pilates exercise protocol will be applied to this group.
Other: Pilates
Pilates exercises are mind-body exercises that are performed on a mat or with special equipment and focus on strength, core stability, flexibility, muscle control, posture and breathing. Pilates exercises are frequently used to develop elements such as core stability, muscle flexibility and strength, physical fitness and body awareness.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Core Muscle Thickness
Time Frame: Beginning, Week 3, Week 6
Core muscle thickness will be measured with ultrasound. The measurement will be taken first in the resting position and then by performing the hollowing maneuver. The difference between the two will be recorded.
Beginning, Week 3, Week 6

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Core Muscle Strength
Time Frame: Beginning, Week 3, Week 6
A pressurized biofeedback unit (BBU) will be used when evaluating muscle strength. BBU is a device that can be used to measure muscle function by detecting the movement of a muscle. Before the measurement, the person will be taught the "Abdominal Hollowing" maneuver, which is a maneuver to pull the abdominal wall inward by saying "Pull your belly up and in." Then, while the person is lying face down, the device will be fixed at 70mmHg and placed at the person's anterior superior iliac level. Then, the person will be asked to perform the maneuver and continue it for 10 seconds, and the change in pressure will be recorded. It will be repeated 3 times and the best measurement will be taken as the final measurement.
Beginning, Week 3, Week 6
Core Muscle Endurance
Time Frame: Beginning, Week 3, Week 6
The endurance of the core muscles will be evaluated in plank and side plank positions. Individuals will be asked to stand in plank and bilateral side plank positions and how long they can maintain this position will be measured.
Beginning, Week 3, Week 6
Posture
Time Frame: Beginning, Week 3, Week 6
The "APECS (AI Posture Evaluation and Correction System)" mobile application will be used in posture assessment. For measurements, photographs will be taken from the front and side and analyzed with the program. The degrees given by the analysis will be noted on the assessment form and comparison will be made.
Beginning, Week 3, Week 6
Cognition
Time Frame: Beginning, Week 3, Week 6
Montreal Cognitive Assessment will be used in cognition assessment. The maximum score for this scale is 30. 21 and above is considered good.
Beginning, Week 3, Week 6
Mental Fatigue
Time Frame: Beginning, Week 3, Week 6
The Mental Fatigue Scale (MFS) will be used when assessing mental fatigue. The MFS was created to measure the effects of mental fatigue in various life situations. The person will be asked to answer the scale questions and then the score for each question will be added up. The higher the total score, the higher the mental fatigue is reported to be. The maximum score can be 38.
Beginning, Week 3, Week 6
Low Back Pain Intensity
Time Frame: Beginning, Week 3, Week 6
Visual analog scale (VAS) will be used in pain assessment. Patients will be asked to mark the pain intensity on a 10 cm scale defined as "0 (no pain)" and "10 (unbearable pain)". The point marked on the scale will be measured with a ruler (in cm) and recorded. Pain intensity will be evaluated in three different situations: activity, rest and night pain.
Beginning, Week 3, Week 6

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Istanbul Saglik Bilimleri University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
March 1, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 20, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
January 16, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 16, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
January 22, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
July 20, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 17, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • AnkaraSBU

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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