Does kinesio tape alter muscle strength in athletes? - Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Kinesio tape (KT) is still a matter of debate and the results of studies that evaluated its effects on muscle strength in athletes are still contradictory and inconclusive.

Objectives: To analyze randomized clinical trials (RCT) to compare the effects of KT on muscle strength with the control/placebo group among athletes with and without musculoskeletal injury.

Method: The search involved the databases: PubMed, Web of Science, LILACS, PEDro, The Cochrane Library, Medline, Scopus, SPORTDiscus and Embase, without filter and included RCTs evaluating the effects of KT on muscle strength in athletes with or without musculoskeletal injury, comparing it to a control/placebo intervention.

Effects of photobiomodulation and deep water running in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBM) is often used to treat musculoskeletal disorders such as chronic non-specific low back pain (NSCLBP) as it can have positive effects on biomarkers-creatine kinase (CK) and serum cortisol levels-related to stress caused by physical exercise, such as deep water running (DWR) or by pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the combination of PBM and aquatic exercise (DWR) on the intensity of pain, disability, 6-min walk test adapted (6WTA), and on cortisol and creatine kinase (CK) levels in a population with NSCLBP. The participants were allocated into three groups: TG (Photobiomodulation and Training Group), TG (Placebo Photobiomodulation and Training Group), and the G (Photobiomodulation Group).