The effectiveness of Kinesio taping on playing-related pain, function and muscle strength in violin players: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Kinesio taping (KT) on playing-related pain, upper extremity and hand function, grip and pinch strength in violin players. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Faculty of health sciences. Participants: One hundred seventeen participants who were professional violinists for at least two years (82 women; mean age, 22.76 +/- 3.87 years) were randomized to receive either therapeutic tape application (KT group), a sham tape application (placebo group), or no application (control group) for one week. Outcome measures: The primary outcome was the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) in one week. The secondary outcomes were the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the Purdue Pegboard Test, grip and pinch strength. Outcome measures were performed at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and one week later (follow-up). Participants were asked to play the "Violin Concerto No.2, Op.35 (Rieding, Oskar)"; pre-and post-performance pain and grip and pinch strength were assessed. Results: The overall group-by-time interaction was not significant for DASH, but the improvement in the mean VAS-playing was slightly better in the KT group than in others (p < 0.05). The mean post-performance VAS-playing remained similar in the KT group while slightly increasing in the other groups (p < 0.05). In addition, a decrease in the mean post-performance grip strength of the left hand was significantly lower in the KT group than in the other groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Violin players receiving an application of KT represented minor improvements in playing-related pain, and post-performance pain intensity and grip strength of the left hand slightly remained after 1 week kT application. The possible post-performance effect of the tape on the pain intensity and grip strength must also be considered because KT can be used during the performance. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.