Add-on effect of Kinesiotape in patients with acute lateral ankle sprain: a randomizedcontrolled trial
Abstract Background Evidence on the add-on effect of Kinesiotape (KT) on acupuncture for treating ankle sprains remains insufficient. We assessed the add-on effect of KT on ankle sprain by comparing acupuncture combined with KT(AcuKT) with acupuncture alone in patients with acute lateral ankle sprain (ALAS). Methods This study was a multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial that included a per-protocol analysis of the add-on effect of KT on ALAS. The randomization was software-based and only the assessors were blinded. Sixty participants(20 each from three centers) with grade I or II ALAS were randomly assigned to an acupuncture (n=30) or AcuKT (n=30) group. Both groups received acupuncture treatment once daily, 5 days per week for 1 week. The AcuKT group received additional KT treatment. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain and Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) were obtained, and edema measurements were performed at baseline (week 0), at the end of the intervention (week 1), and at 4 weeks after the intervention (week 5).The European Quality of Life Five Dimension-Five Level Scale (EQ-5D-5L) measurements were conducted at week 0, week 1, week 5, and 26 weeks after the intervention. The number of recurrent ankle sprains was determined at 4,8,12, and 26weeks after the intervention. Results Fifty-six patients with ALAS completed the trial (AcuKT group, 27; acupuncture group, 29). There were significant changes(week 0 vs. week 1;week 0 vs. week 5) in VAS, FAOS, and EQ-5D-5L in both groups and in edema measurement in the AcuKT group alone. There were no significant differences between both groups regarding any outcome and in a subanalysis based on symptom severity. Conclusions These results indicate that AcuKT did not show the positive add-on effects of KT on acupuncture regarding pain reduction, edema, recovery of function, activities of daily living, quality of life, and relapse of ALAS.