Effects of Kinesio Taping on Pain, Endurance, Proprioception, Mobility and Disability in Lumbar Disc Herniation

January 10, 2025 updated by: Sevtap Günay

Effects of Different Kinesio Taping Treatments Added to the Physical Therapy Program on Pain, Endurance, Lumbar Proprioception, Mobility and Disability in Patients Diagnosed With Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

In addition to the physical therapy program, taping was applied to 90 patients diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation. 90 patients were randomized into 3 groups. Group 1 received star-shaped taping to the lumbar region in addition to physical therapy, Group 2 received I-shaped taping to the erector spinae muscles in addition to physical therapy, and Group 3 was planned as the control group. In the first evaluation, sociodemographic information and disease duration (months) were questioned. Then, pain, muscle strength and endurance mobility, lumbar proprioception, functional level, and disability were evaluated. Evaluations were performed before treatment, after taping and at the end of the 12th week.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The study included 90 patients aged between 18-65 years who were diagnosed with LDH by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), had moderate to severe low back pain (Numeric Rating Scale >4) for at least 6 weeks, and were planned to receive a physical therapy program (10 sessions of hotpack, Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and ultrasound every day for 2 weeks). The 90 patients included in the study were randomized into 3 groups using the computer-assisted randomization method. Group 1 received star-shaped taping to the lumbar region in addition to physical therapy (5 times in total every 3 days), Group 2 received I-shaped taping to the erector spinae muscles in addition to physical therapy (5 times in total every 3 days), and Group 3 was planned as the control group. In the first evaluation, sociodemographic information (age, gender, height (m), weight (kg), BMI (kg/m2)) and disease duration (months) were questioned. Then, pain (pain intensity and pressure pain threshold), muscle strength (lumbar extensor muscle strength) and endurance (trunk extensor muscle endurance), mobility (lumbar lordosis angle, joint range of motion), lumbar proprioception, functional level, disability evaluations were performed. Evaluations were performed before treatment, after the taping application and at the end of the 12th week. Post-treatment evaluations were performed the day after the tape was removed.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

90

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • Turkey
      • İzmir, Turkey
        • Izmir Bakircay University Cigli Training and Research Hospital

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Having moderate to severe low back pain (Numeric Rating Scale>3) for at least 6 weeks
  • Voluntariness to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of lumbar fracture or tumor
  • Previous lumbosacral or abdominal surgery
  • Ankylosing spondylitis, spondylolisthesis, fibromyalgia, peripheral neurogenic disease
  • Pregnancy
  • History of cancer
  • Demonstrated allergy/intolerance to kinesiotaping during a test performed before the initial evaluation

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: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Group 1
In addition to routine physical therapy sessions, I taping was applied to the paraspinal muscles.
Other: Routine Treatment + I Taping
Routine physical therapy program (10 sessions of hotpack, Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and ultrasound every day for 2 weeks) was applied. In addition to routine treatment, I taping (a total of 5 times every 3 days) was performed. Two I-shaped kinesio tapings were applied on the paraspinal muscles from the posterior superior iliac spine to the T12 level. 50% tension was applied to the area of the tapes outside the anchor points.
Active Comparator: Group 2
In addition to routine physical therapy sessions, star taping was applied to sensitive points.
Other: Routine Treatment + Star Taping
Routine physical therapy program (10 sessions of hotpack, Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and ultrasound every day for 2 weeks) was applied. In addition to routine treatment, star taping (a total of 5 times every 3 days) was performed. Four I tapes, one vertical, one horizontal and two at a 45° angle to the vertical tape, were applied to the point of maximum pain in the lumbar region. 25% tension was applied to the midpoint of the tapes except for the ends.
Other: Group 3
No application (no taping) was made outside of the routine physical therapy program.
Other: Routine Treatment
Routine physical therapy program (10 sessions of hotpack, Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and ultrasound every day for 2 weeks) was applied. No taping was applied.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain intensity assessment
Time Frame: Baseline, day after last taping application (week 2), 12 weeks after baseline
Pain intensity was measured using the Pain Intensity Numerical Rating Scale, which is most commonly used in the management of patients with chronic low back pain. The scale has 11 points ranging from no pain = 0 to worst possible pain = 10. Patients were asked to indicate their pain intensity during the "last 24 hours" or "average pain" at rest.
Baseline, day after last taping application (week 2), 12 weeks after baseline
Pressure pain threshold assessment
Time Frame: Baseline, day after last taping application (week 2), 12 weeks after baseline
The pressure pain threshold was determined in kg/cm2 using an algometer device. Measurements were made at 4 points, 5 cm lateral to the L3 and L5 spinous processes on the right and left. The patient was informed to give the command 'stop' when the pressure sensitivity became unbearable or turned into pain. The test was stopped as soon as the patient reported pain and the applied force was recorded. 2 measurements were made at 30-second intervals and the average of the measurements was used. If the participant did not report pain at a force equivalent to 100 N/s, the test was stopped and this value was accepted.
Baseline, day after last taping application (week 2), 12 weeks after baseline
Muscle strength assessment
Time Frame: Baseline, day after last taping application (week 2), 12 weeks after baseline
Lumbar extensor muscle strength was measured with a hand held dynamometer. Participants were positioned face down on a stretcher with their hands clasped. The base of the dynamometer was fixed to the center of the T4 spine and participants were asked to extend their trunks. The tests were repeated twice with at least a one-minute rest. The higher value was recorded as the result.
Baseline, day after last taping application (week 2), 12 weeks after baseline
Endurance assessment
Time Frame: Baseline, day after last taping application (week 2), 12 weeks after baseline
The measurement was made using the Biering-Sorensen test. The participant placed the upper half of his/her body on another examination table at a lower height. The participant was asked to hold his/her body isometrically in a horizontal position with hands clasped behind the head until fatigue or pain was felt. The test was terminated when any part of the participant's upper extremities touched the table. The tests were repeated twice with at least a one-minute rest break. The higher value was recorded as the result.
Baseline, day after last taping application (week 2), 12 weeks after baseline
Lumbar lordosis angle assessment
Time Frame: Baseline, day after last taping application (week 2), 12 weeks after baseline
Lumbar lordosis was measured using a digital inclinometer. The participant stood with their feet 15 cm apart and their arms at their sides while looking ahead. In this position, the T12-L1 and S1 spine levels were marked by the physiotherapist. Lumbar lordosis was calculated by placing one end of the inclinometer on T12-L1 and the other on the sacrum.
Baseline, day after last taping application (week 2), 12 weeks after baseline
Lumbar joint range of motion assessment
Time Frame: Baseline, day after last taping application (week 2), 12 weeks after baseline
Participants' lumbar flexion, extension and lateral flexion active joint range of motion measurements were evaluated angularly with a universal goniometer.
Baseline, day after last taping application (week 2), 12 weeks after baseline
Proprioception assessment
Time Frame: Baseline, day after last taping application (week 2), 12 weeks after baseline
Proprioception was assessed by having the participants attempt to reproduce the target position. Three different target positions were selected. The participants were asked to repeat two different trunk positions from upright posture to 45° and 60° flexion with the eyes looking forward, and one position to 15° extension. Each participant was positioned in 45° lumbar flexion for 10 seconds after a neutral starting position and was asked to remember this position. The participant then returned to the neutral position and was given verbal instructions to reproduce the target position as accurately as possible. The participant reported to the therapist that he had reached the target position as perceived. The participant was asked to maintain the final position for 3 seconds and this position was recorded. The same procedures were repeated for 60° lumbar flexion and 15° lumbar extension. Each trial was repeated three times with a 30-second rest; the mean was then calculated.
Baseline, day after last taping application (week 2), 12 weeks after baseline
Functional level assessment
Time Frame: Baseline, day after last taping application (week 2), 12 weeks after baseline
A 30-second stand-up-sit test was performed to determine the functional level. Participants were asked to sit in a back-supported chair without arm support, with their hands crossed on their shoulders. Participants were asked to sit immediately after coming to an upright standing position. A trial test was performed to learn the test. The individual who learned the test was asked to sit down and stand up for 30 seconds and the number of repetitions of the movement was recorded.
Baseline, day after last taping application (week 2), 12 weeks after baseline
Disability assessment
Time Frame: Baseline, day after last taping application (week 2), 12 weeks after baseline
The Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire was used to assess disability due to low back pain. The questionnaire consists of 24 items regarding physical activity, rest/sleep, psychosocial outcomes, home management, nutrition, and pain frequency. Higher scores indicate increasing disability.
Baseline, day after last taping application (week 2), 12 weeks after baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Sevtap Günay

Investigators

  • Study Director: Filiz Meryem SERTPOYRAZ, Assoc. Dr., Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Bakircay University Training and Research Hospital
  • Study Chair: Hilal UZUNLAR, PhD(c), RA, Izmir Katip Çelebi University, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation
  • Study Chair: Ecem SAK, Ass.Dr., Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Bakircay University Training and Research Hospital

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

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)

March 15, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

March 15, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

March 29, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 10, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 10, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 25, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 10, 2025

Last Verified

January 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • Izmir Katip Celebi

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

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.

Clinical Trials on Chronic Pain

Clinical Trials on Routine Treatment + I Taping

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Ethiopia

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Subscribe