title: Effects of Kinesio® Tape in low back muscle fatigue: randomized, controlled, doubled-blinded clinical trial on healthy subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Muscle fatigue of the trunk extensor musculature plays a considerable role in chronic low back pain (LBP). The underlying physiology of fatigue is complex and not fully understood. The Kinesio® Taping (KT) supports damaged structures while allowing mobility and at the same time may influence some of the mechanisms associated with muscle fatigue such as blood flow and proprioception.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to determine the influence of KT on the resistance to fatigue of the lumbar extensor musculature in a sample of young healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, controlled, doubled-blinded clinical trial was conducted. Ninety nine healthy subjects were randomized in to the three arms of the study Kinesio® Tape (KT), placebo (P) and control (C). Directly after application of KT we measured lumbar extensor musculature endurance with the Biering-Sorensen test. Subjects and researchers were blinded to the intervention. Time achieved (seconds) was compared between groups with one-way ANOVA with confidence intervals of 95%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences between the time achieved in the KT group versus the control group (p < 0.05). The placebo group performed better than the control group but worse than the KT group, these were not significant in either case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  KT appears to improve the time to failure of the extensor muscle of the trunk obtained using the Biering-Sorensen test. These findings suggest that KT influences processes that lead to muscle fatigue and that KT could be effective in the management of LBP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, CEU-San Pablo University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Álvarez-Álvarez
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, CEU-San Pablo University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: F García-Muro San
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: José
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, CEU-San Pablo University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Fernández
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Rey Juan Carlos University, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Güeita-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Waller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D055052:Athletic Tape; D064131:Back Muscles / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology*; D010919:Placebos; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos
keywords: Muscle fatigue; blood circulation; isometric contraction; kinesio tape; proprioception