title: Effects of kinesio taping on venous symptoms, bioelectrical activity of the gastrocnemius muscle, range of ankle motion, and quality of life in postmenopausal women with chronic venous insufficiency: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of Kinesio taping (KT) on venous symptoms, quality of life, severity, pain, edema, range of ankle motion (ROAM), and peripheral muscle myoelectrical activity in lower limbs of postmenopausal women with mild chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Double-blinded randomized controlled trial with concealed allocation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive postmenopausal women (N=123; age range, 62-67y) with early-stage CVI. None of the participants withdrew because of adverse effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group for standardized KT application for external gastrocnemius (EG) and internal gastrocnemius (IG) muscle enhancement and ankle function correction or a placebo control group for sham KT application. Both interventions were performed 3 times a week during a 4-week period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Venous symptoms, CVI severity, pain, leg volume, gastrocnemius electromyographic data, ROAM, and quality of life were recorded at baseline and after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The experimental group evidenced significant improvements in pain distribution, venous claudication, swelling, heaviness, muscle cramps, pruritus, and CVI severity score (P≤.042). Both groups reported significant reductions in pain (experimental group: 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6 to 2.1; control group: 95% CI, -0.2 to 0.3). There were no significant changes in either group in quality of life, leg volume, or ROAM. The experimental group showed significant improvements in root mean square signals (right leg: EG 95% CI, 2.99-5.84; IG 95% CI, 1.02-3.42; left leg: EG 95% CI, 3.00-6.25; IG 95% CI, 3.29-5.3) and peak maximum contraction (right leg: EG 95% CI, 4.8-22.7; IG 95% CI, 2.67-24.62; left leg: EG 95% CI, 2.37-20.44; IG 95% CI, 2.55-25.53), which were not changed in controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  KT may reduce venous symptoms, pain, and their severity and enhance gastrocnemius muscle activity, but its effects on quality of life, edema, and ROAM remain uncertain. KT may have a placebo effect on venous pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain. Electronic address: encaguilar@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: María Encarnación
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Aguilar-Ferrándiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing and Physical Therapy, University of Almeria, Almeria, Spain.
authors.forename: Adelaida María
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Castro-Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Andalusian Health Service, Health District Jaen-Northeast, Jaen, Spain.
authors.forename: Guillermo A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Matarán-Peñarrocha
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, CEU-San Pablo University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: García-Muro
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesitherapie Vasculaire, Université Catholique de Louvain, Cliniques Universitaires de Mont-Godinne, Yvoir, Belgium.
authors.forename: Theys
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Serge
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moreno-Lorenzo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055052:Athletic Tape; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004487:Edema / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009120:Muscle Cramp / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D059408:Pain Management; D017698:Postmenopause; D011537:Pruritus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: C1; C2; C3; CI; CIVIQ; CVI; EG; EMG; Electromyography; GM; IG; KT; Kinesio taping; ROAM; Range of motion; Taping Rehabilitation; VAS; chronic venous insufficiency; confidence interval; edema; electromyography; external gastrocnemius; gastrocnemius muscle; internal gastrocnemius; quality of life questionnaire in chronic lower limb venous insufficiency; range of ankle motion; telangiectasies or reticular veins; varicose veins; visual analog scale