Can Kinesio Taping® influence the electromyographic signal intensity of trunk extensor muscles in patients with chronic low back pain? A randomized controlled trial.

Background: The evidence of the influence of Kinesio Taping® in changing electromyographic signal intensity of the lumbar musculature in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain (LBP) is very sparse.

Objectives: To evaluate if Kinesio Taping® changes the electromyographic signal intensity of the longissimus and iliocostalis muscles in patients with chronic non-specific LBP.

Methods: Prospectively registered, three-arm randomized controlled trial with a blinded assessor. Patients were randomly allocated to the following interventions: 1) Kinesio Taping® Group (n=21), where patients received the tape according to the manufacturer's manual; 2) Placebo Group (i.e. normal surgical tape) (n=21); and 3) Non-treatment control Group (n=21). Assessments were performed at baseline, immediately after, and 30min after the intervention. The primary outcome was muscle activity of the iliocostalis and longissimus muscles as measured by surface electromyography. The secondary outcome was pain intensity (measured with a 0-10 Numerical Rating Scale). The effects of treatment were calculated using linear mixed models.

Results: A total of 63 patients were recruited. Follow up rate was high (98.4%). Patients were mostly women with moderate levels of pain and disability. Kinesio Taping® was better than the control and placebo groups in only 4 of 96 statistical comparisons, likely reflective of type I error due to multiple comparisons. No statistically significant differences were identified for the immediate reduction in pain intensity between groups.

Conclusion: Kinesio Taping® did not change the electromyographic signal intensity of the longissimus and iliocostalis muscles or reduce pain intensity in patients with chronic low back pain. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02759757 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02759757).