Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine 51-10 | Page 16

736
Y. Sheng et al.
in detail, and 47 were removed based on the exclusion
and inclusion criteria. A final total of 8 eligible articles
were therefore included in the present study (21–28)
(Fig. 1).
Characteristics of included studies
The main characteristics of each included study are
shown in Table I. These studies were published during
2012–2015 and enrolled a total of 530 participants,
aged 18–80 years, including 257 male and 273 female
patients with CNSLBP. Patients with CNSLBP in the
control group were provided with conventional thera-
pies, including physical therapy (combined massage,
strength training and endurance training), combined
ultrasound, hot packs and transcutaneous electrical
nerve stimulation (TENS), separate acupuncture, or
separate high- + medium-frequency electric therapy,
etc., while patients in the treatment group were treated
with KT with or without the above interventions.
Quality assessment of the included studies
The quality of each included study is shown in Fig.
2. The majority of studies had a low risk of bias in
random sequence generation, allocation concealment,
incomplete outcome data, and others. However, 5 stu-
dies had a high risk of unblinding of participants and
personnel, and 4 studies had a high risk of unblinding
of outcome assessment. In addition, all studies had a
high or unclear risk of selective reporting. Collectively,
the quality of included studies was moderate.
Data synthesis of outcome measures
VAS assessment. The VAS score was used as outcome
indictor in all the included studies. High heterogeneity
was detected within all included studies (p < 0.00001
and I 2  = 91%), thus a random effect model was applied
to pool the VAS data of each study. The pooled results
demonstrated that significantly reduced pain was achie-
ved in 258 patients with CNSLBP with KT treatment
Table I. Summary of the basic information of included trials
Study
Köroğlu et al., 60
2017 (21)
Peng et al.,
2015 (22)
Sample
number Groups
92
Qiao et al.,
2017 (23) 30
Su et al.,
2015 (24) 40
Song et al.,
2016 (25) 100
Suxia and
72
Baoqua, 2015
(26)
Castro-
60
Sánchez et
al., 2012 (27)
Dangpei et
76
al., 2017 (28)
n
Sex
(M/F)
KT+ combined
20 32/28
ultrasound, hot packs and
electrotherapy
placebo taping +
20
combined ultrasound, hot
packs and electrotherapy
no taping+ combined
20
ultrasound, hot packs and
electrotherapy
KT+high + medium
23 42/50
frequency electric therapy
high + medium frequency 23
treatment
KT
conventional recumbent
position
KT +mobilization 6 days 23
23
regular physical therapy
KT +regular physical
therapy
regular physical therapy
KT +acupuncture 12
20 16/24
acupuncture
KT +regular physical
therapy
regular physical therapy 50
36 49/23
36
KT 30 40/20
sham KT
KT +regular physical
therapy 30
38 34/42
regular physical therapy 38
18 0/30
20
50 44/56
Age
Course
48.5±13.9 at least 3
months
Taping Application
VAS
ODI
Conclusion Conclusion
2 I-shaped tapes; horizontally over the significant significant
dimples of the back; natural tension
differences differences
37.8±15.9 1 week - 2.5
(22-65)
years I-shaped tape; the upper area of the back; significant significant
Y-shaped tape; along the lumbar muscle to differences differences
the L1 transverse protrusion; Y-shaped tape;
the 12 th rib area; natural tension; both side
65.33±4.84 3.98±0.72
(60-75)
months 2 I-shaped tapes; bending back; asterisk (*) significant significant
-shaped tape; the pain zone; natural tension differences differences
25-80 asterisk (*) -shaped tape; the pain zone
at least 1
month
significant significant
differences differences
39.99±8.46 5.33±2
(29-65)
months “Y”-shaped tape; the first lumbar vertebrae significant significant
along the lumbar muscles; I-shaped tape; the differences differences
12 th rib position; natural tension; both side
44.73±5.72 at least 3
(18-60)
months I-shaped tape; the first lumbar spines to the
top of the atlas; I-shaped tape; 12 ribs along
the lumbar muscle; natural tension; both
side; 2 I-shaped tapes; the 5 th lumbar spines
process and the thoracic 12 spines process to
both sides of the iliac crest; natural tension
4 I-shaped tapes; over the point of maximum
pain in the lumbar area; 25% tension
48.5 (18-
65)
at least 3
months
38.5±8.05 9±2.2
(18-64)
months
significant significant
differences differences
significant significant
differences differences
I-shaped tape; from the first lumbar spine significant significant
above the atlas; I-shaped tape; the shoulder differences differences
rib line 12 ribs along the waist muscles until
the humerus is placed; natural tension; both
side; 2 I-shaped tapes; from the 5 th lumbar
spines process and the 12 spine until the iliac
crest; natural tension; both side
M: male; F: female; KT: Kinesio Taping; VAS: Visual Analogue Scale; ODI: Oswestry Disability Index. Physical therapy is a combined method of massage, strength
training and endurance training.
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