Effectiveness of the addition of the use of the Kinesio Taping in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain who receive conventional physical therapy: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Chronic nonspecific low back pain is an important health condition with a high prevalence worldwide, and it is associated with enormous direct and indirect costs to the society. Clinical practice guidelines show that many interventions are available to treat patients with chronic low back pain, but the vast majority of these interventions have a modest effect in reducing pain and disability. An intervention that has been widely used in recent years is the use of elastic bandages called Kinesio Taping. Although Kinesio Taping have been largely used in clinical practice, the current evidence does not support the use of this intervention. However, these conclusions are based on a small number of under powered studies. Therefore, questions remain about the effectiveness of the Kinesio Taping method as an additional treatment to interventions that have already been recommended by the current clinical practice guidelines, such as conventional physical therapy in a well design trial with statistic power. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of the addition of the use of Kinesio Taping in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain who receive conventional physical therapy. Methods: One hundred and forty-eight patients will be randomized to receive either conventional physical therapy, which consist of a combination of manual therapy techniques, general exercises and specific exercises for spinal segmental stabilization (Conventional Physical Therapy Group) or to receive conventional physical therapy plus the addition of the Kinesio Taping in the lumbar spine (Conventional Physical Therapy plus Kinesio Taping), over a period of 5 weeks (10 sessions of treatment). Clinical outcomes (pain intensity, disability, global perceived effect and satisfaction with care) will be collected at baseline and at 5 weeks, 3 and 6 months after randomization. Data will be collected by a blinded examiner who will be unaware about the group allocation. All statistical analysis will be conducted following the principles of intention to treat analysis, and the comparison between groups will be performed using Mixed Linear Models. Expected results: The results of this study may help in the decision-making of physical therapists, as well as may reduce the enormous costs associated with chronic nonspecific low back pain. (AU)