title: The clinical effects of Kinesio® Tex taping: A systematic review.
abstract: Kinesio(®) Tex tape (KTT) is used in a variety of clinical settings. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of KTT from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the management of clinical conditions. A systematic literature search of CINAHL; MEDLINE; OVID; AMED; SCIENCE DIRECT; PEDRO; www.internurse.com; SPORT DISCUS; BRITISH NURSING INDEX; www.kinesiotaping.co.uk; www.kinesiotaping.com; COCHRANE CENTRAL REGISTER OF CLINICAL TRIALS; and PROQUEST was performed up to April 2012. The risk of bias and quality of evidence grading was performed using the Cochrane collaboration methodology. Eight RCTs met the full inclusion/exclusion criteria. Six of these included patients with musculoskeletal conditions; one included patients with breast-cancer-related lymphedema; and one included stroke patients with muscle spasticity. Six studies included a sham or usual care tape/bandage group. There was limited to moderate evidence that KTT is no more clinically effective than sham or usual care tape/bandage. There was limited evidence from one moderate quality RCT that KTT in conjunction with physiotherapy was clinically beneficial for plantar fasciitis related pain in the short term; however, there are serious questions around the internal validity of this RCT. There currently exists insufficient evidence to support the use of KTT over other modalities in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Senior Physiotherapist, School of Health and Social Care, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Ryan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D055052:Athletic Tape; D004867:Equipment Design; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D036981:Fasciitis, Plantar / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D019534:Shoulder Impingement Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult