title: Current evidence does not support the use of Kinesio Taping in clinical practice: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Is Kinesio Taping more effective than a sham taping/placebo, no treatment or other interventions in people with musculoskeletal conditions? Is the addition of Kinesio Taping to other interventions more effective than other interventions alone in people with musculoskeletal conditions?
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review of randomised trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  People with musculoskeletal conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Kinesio Taping was compared with sham taping/placebo, no treatment, exercises, manual therapy and conventional physiotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pain intensity, disability, quality of life, return to work, and global impression of recovery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve randomised trials involving 495 participants were included in the review. The effectiveness of the Kinesio Taping was tested in participants with: shoulder pain in two trials; knee pain in three trials; chronic low back pain in two trials; neck pain in three trials; plantar fasciitis in one trial; and multiple musculoskeletal conditions in one trial. The methodological quality of eligible trials was moderate, with a mean of 6.1 points on the 10-point PEDro Scale score. Overall, Kinesio Taping was no better than sham taping/placebo and active comparison groups. In all comparisons where Kinesio Taping was better than an active or a sham control group, the effect sizes were small and probably not clinically significant or the trials were of low quality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review provides the most updated evidence on the effectiveness of the Kinesio Taping for musculoskeletal conditions. The current evidence does not support the use of this intervention in these clinical populations. PROSPERO registration: CRD42012003436.
authors.affiliation: Masters and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia do Carmo Silva
authors.initials: Pdo C
authors.lastname: Parreira
authors.affiliation: Masters and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucíola da Cunha Menezes
authors.initials: Lda C
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Masters and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Carlos
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Hespanhol
authors.affiliation: Masters and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre Dias
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Masters and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo, Brazil; Musculoskeletal Division, The George Institute for Global Health, Australia.
authors.forename: Leonardo Oliveira Pena
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D058128:Compression Bandages; D000075202:Contraindications; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006801:Humans; D018953:Kinesiology, Applied / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D053832:Surgical Tape; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Kinesio taping; Musculoskeletal conditions; Systematic review