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

March 23, 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

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

54

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 (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

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
Intervention / Treatment
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

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

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

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)

May 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

March 1, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

March 20, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 16, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 16, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

January 22, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 27, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 23, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID 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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