Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine 51-10 | Page 19

Effect of kinesio taping in chronic non-specific low back pain
Although a variety of studies demonstrate the effect
of KT on pain relief, functional performance, disability
and improvement in ADL, the specific mechanism of
action of KT remains unclear. Possible explanations
for the mechanism of pain relief are that KT can ef-
fectively increase the kinesio taping may provide force
on skin and increase the gap which is underneath the
skin or the gap between epidermis and dermis, pro-
mote subcutaneous blood and lymphatic reflux, and
accelerate the healing of injured areas through its own
natural tension. In addition, KT can produce conti-
nuous sensory input to the skin sensors, which may
relatively suppress the sensory input of pain perception
(32). An additional possible explanation for functional
performance, disability or improvements in ADL is that
application of KT may increase the range of motion
of the temporomandibular joint during exercise (33).
Study limitations
Although this study resulted in some meaningful
implications, it also has several limitations. First, a
limited number of studies were included; there is a need
for more high-quality RCT studies with large sample
sizes to confirm the reliability of the present study.
Secondly, the total quality of included studies was rated
as moderate, and overall confidence in the VAS and
ODI estimates was low, which may lead to overesti-
mation of effect and reduction in the recommendation
rate of our pooled results. Thirdly, because there are
few RCTs on this topic, this supports the inclusion of
other measures of pain and disability, and since we
only investigated VAS and ODI measures to assess
the pain and disability, it is possible that relevant stu-
dies may have been missed. Fourthly, methodological
heterogeneity occurred in many included studies, with
comparisons between different intervention strategies,
and several studies assessed the combined effect of KT
and other intervention strategies. Thus, further studies
are needed to compare KT separately with some speci-
fic general interventions. Finally, the shape, direction
and tensile force of KT for pain reduction or functional
performance are different in different individuals (34).
Further studies, focusing on the effect on pain reduc-
tion or improvement in functional performance using
different shapes, directions or tensile forces of KT,
should be included in the analysis.
Conclusion
This meta-analysis demonstrated that KT, either sepa-
rately or in combination with other general therapies,
resulted in greater pain relief and improvement in ADL
in patients with CNSLBP than did general physical
therapies without KT.
739
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study was supported by the programme of Shanghai
Science and Technology Committee (No.16411955200) and
Scientific Research and Innovation Team Funding Plan of
Shanghai Sanda University.
The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
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