title: Kinesio Taping does not decrease swelling in acute, lateral ankle sprain of athletes: a randomised trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Does Kinesio Taping reduce swelling in athletes who have suffered an acute, lateral ankle sprain?
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised controlled trial with concealed allocation, intention-to-treat analysis and blinded assessment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six athletes who participated regularly in one of seven different sports modalities and suffered an acute ankle sprain.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experimental group received Kinesio Taping application for 3 days, which was designed to treat swelling. The control group received an inert Kinesio Taping application.
  
  
  METHODS
  For the comparison between groups, the swelling was measured via volumetry, perimetry, relative volumetry and two analyses of the difference in volume and perimetry between ankles of each participant. Data were collected immediately after the 3 days of intervention and at follow-up, which was 15 days post intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 3 days after intervention, there were no differences between groups for swelling in volumetry (MD -2 ml, 95% CI -28 to 32); perimetry (MD 0.2 cm, 95% CI -0.6 to 1.0); relative volumetry (MD 0.0 cm, 95% CI -0.1 to 0.1); and the other analyses. At day 15 follow-up, there were no significant between-group differences in outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The application of Kinesio Taping, with the aim of stimulating the lymphatic system, is ineffective in decreasing acute swelling after an ankle sprain in athletes.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials, RBR-32sctf.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Center of Health and Sport Sciences, Santa Catarina State University, Brazil.
authors.forename: Guilherme S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Center of Health and Sport Sciences, Santa Catarina State University, Brazil.
authors.forename: Valentine Zimermann
authors.initials: VZ
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Center of Health and Sport Sciences, Santa Catarina State University, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wageck
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Center of Health and Sport Sciences, Santa Catarina State University, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniela Pacheco dos Santos
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Hauphental
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Center of Health and Sport Sciences, Santa Catarina State University, Brazil.
authors.forename: Clarissa Medeiros
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: da Luz
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Center of Health and Sport Sciences, Santa Catarina State University, Brazil; La Trobe University, Rural Health School, Bendigo, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Noronha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D056352:Athletes; D055052:Athletic Tape; D001938:Brazil; D004487:Edema / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Ankle injuries; Bandages; Lymphatic system; Oedema; Sprains and strains