Comparison of two techniques for using the Kinesio Taping in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial

• Grant number: 11/14190-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2012
• End date: October 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Leonardo Oliveira Pena Costa
• Grantee: Patrícia Do Carmo Silva Parreira
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria de Pós-Graduação, Pesquisa e Extensão. Universidade Cidade de São Paulo (UNICID). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Chronic low back pain is a highly prevalent condition which is associated with high direct and indirect costs worldwide. Although this condition is highly prevalent, it is still extremely difficult to treat. A new alternative of treatment that is very popular in sports has been proposed for patients with low back pain. This technique is based on the use of elastic bandages that are fixed using different tensions on the skin of patients and is called Kinesio Taping. Despite being an interesting treatment approach, it has never been tested in a high methodological quality study. Therefore a high quality randomized controlled trial is necessary to compare, for the first time, the effectiveness of such techniques in patients with chronic low back pain. One hundred and forty-eight patients will be randomly allocated to two different Kinesio Taping techniques during 8 sessions of treatment over four weeks. Clinical outcomes (pain intensity, disability and global perceived effect) will be obtained in evaluations that will be performed in 4 weeks, 3 and 6 months after randomization. Data will be collected by a blinded examiner with regards to the patients'allocation. This is the first study to compare different techniques of Kinesio Taping for patients with chronic low back pain. The results of this study can assist health care professionals in their clinical decision making for the treatment of chronic low back pain, and can reduce the health costs for this condition.