title: Kinesio taping as a treatment method in the acute phase of ACL reconstruction: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we aimed on investigating the effects of Kinesio taping (KT) in acute postoperative rehabilitation phase of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty male patients (mean age: 28.1 years) with ACL reconstruction were randomly assigned to two groups: (1) an experimental group to receive a KT treatment through the muscle and lymphatic correction techniques; or (2) a control group for sham KT. Both interventions were applied twice during a 10-day period from the fourth postoperative day. All patients received the same rehabilitation program for three months. The groups were compared according to range of motion (ROM), pain, swelling and muscle strength before treatment and on the fifth and tenth treatment days. Subjective evaluations were made with the Lysholm, modified Cincinnati and Tegner scores on the first and third postoperative months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intragroup comparisons showed significant improvements in both groups on the fifth and tenth day and first and third month evaluations (p < 0.05). In comparison to the control group, the experimental group showed significant improvements in swelling around the patella, all pain measurements and hamstring muscle strength on the fifth KT day and knee flexion range of motion (ROM), night pain, all swelling measurements and hamstring muscle strength on the tenth KT day (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results revealed that KT techniques applied in addition to the acute rehabilitation program of ACL reconstruction are beneficial in treatment of pain, swelling, knee flexion ROM, and hamstring muscle strength.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level I, Therapeutic study.
authors: Cumhuriyet University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Sivas, Turkey. Electronic address: balkipt@hotmail.com.
authors: Selvin
authors: S
authors: Balki
authors: Cumhuriyet University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Sivas, Turkey.
authors: Hanım Eda
authors: HE
authors: Göktaş
authors: Cumhuriyet University, Faculty of Medicine, Sivas, Turkey.
authors: Zekeriya
authors: Z
authors: Öztemur
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D055052:Athletic Tape / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010329:Patella / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Activity; Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction; Function; Kinesio tape; Pain; Strength; Swelling