title: Kinesio taping to generate skin convolutions is not better than sham taping for people with chronic non-speciﬁc low back pain: a randomised trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  For people with chronic low back pain, does Kinesio Taping, applied according to the treatment manual to create skin convolutions, reduce pain and disability more than a simple application without convolutions?
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised trial with concealed allocation, intention-to-treat analysis and blinded assessment of some outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  148 participants with chronic non-specific low back pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental group participants received eight sessions (over four weeks) of Kinesio Taping applied according to the Kinesio Taping Method treatment manual (ie, 10 to 15% tension applied in flexion to create skin convolutions in neutral). Control group participants received eight sessions (over four weeks) of Kinesio Taping with no tension, creating no convolutions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome measures were pain intensity and disability after the four-week intervention. Secondary outcomes were pain intensity and disability 12 weeks after randomisation, and global perceived effect at both four and 12 weeks after randomisation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Applying Kinesio Tape to create convolutions in the skin did not significantly change its effect on pain (MD-0.4 points, 95% CI-1.3 to 0.4) or disability (MD-0.3 points, 95% CI-1.9 to 1.3) at four weeks. There was a small difference in favour of the experimental group for the secondary outcome of global perceived effect (MD 1.4 points, 95% CI 0.3 to 2.5) at four weeks. No significant between-group differences were observed for the other secondary outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Kinesio Taping applied with stretch to generate convolutions in the skin was no more effective than simple application of the tape without tension for the outcomes measured. These results challenge the proposed mechanism of action of this therapy.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials, RBR-7ggfkv.
authors: Masters and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo.
authors: Patrícia do Carmo Silva
authors: Pdo C
authors: Parreira
authors: Masters and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo.
authors: Lucíola da Cunha Menezes
authors: Lda C
authors: Costa
authors: Private Practice, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Ricardo
authors: R
authors: Takahashi
authors: Masters and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo; Department of Public & Occupational Health and EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Luiz Carlos
authors: LC
authors: Hespanhol Junior
authors: Masters and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo.
authors: Maurício Antônio da
authors: MA
authors: Luz Junior
authors: Masters and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo.
authors: Tatiane Mota da
authors: TM
authors: Silva
authors: Masters and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo; Musculoskeletal Division, The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, Australia.
authors: Leonardo Oliveira Pena
authors: LO
authors: Costa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D058128:Compression Bandages; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D018953:Kinesiology, Applied / Q000379:methods*; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Kinesio Taping; Low back pain; Randomised controlled trial