The influence of Kinesio Taping on muscle fatigue in individuals with low back pain: A randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of different taping techniques on back muscle fatigue in people with low back pain. METHODS: Sixty women with chronic non-specific low back pain were randomly assigned to four groups of 15 participants each: control (CG), Kinesio Taping (KT) with tension (KTT), KT no tension (KTNT) and Micropore (R) (MP), which were applied over the erector spinae muscles. The median frequency (MF) fatigue slopes of the longissimus muscle and sustained contraction time during a trunk fatigue test (Ito test), and pain using the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) were collected at three time points: pre-treatment, three and ten days after intervention at a university laboratory. RESULTS: Significant differences were seen in the MF slopes between groups (p = 0.01, eta(2) = 0.20), with the KTT showing a mean difference (MD = 0.31, p = 0.04) and KTNT (MD = 0.28, p = 0.04) compared with CG. Significant reductions in NPRS were seen between time points (p < 0.001, eta(2) = 0.28), with a reduction between pre and 3 days (MD = 1.87, p < 0.001), and pre and 10 days (MD = 1.38, p < 0.001), with KTT and KTNT both showing clinically important changes. CONCLUSION: KT, with or without tension, has a tendency to reduce back muscle fatigue and reduce pain in individuals with chronic non-specific low back pain.