Effect of Ankle Kinesio Taping on Dynamic Balance in Stroke Patients- A Pilot Study

Background: Stroke causes partial brain loss, which leads to a functional abnormality of the brain, which produces a variety of symptoms the most prevalent of which is balance affection. Kinesio tape is a thin, light and elastic material which does not immobilize the joint and allows for free movement irrespective of the tape. It serves to facilitate or inhibit the muscle as needed and provides joint stability which will help improve balance function. It is also used to reduce pain, which is a typical complaint in stroke patients. Objective: To assess for immediate and post effects of kinesio tape in stroke patients using Berg Balance Scale and 10 Meter walk test. Method: A total of 15 participants were chosen based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Before application of kinesio tape, the Berg balance scale and a 10-meter walk test were performed and recorded. Following the application, the subjects were reassessed, and the outcomes of the 5-day follow-up were recorded. These scores were statistically analyzed. Result: The statistical analysis showed that there is a significant increase in the dynamic balance function post kinesio tape application. An average increase of 5 scores in BBS was noted and average improvement of 5.70 seconds in 10MWT. Conclusion: This study concludes that there is a significant improvement on dynamic balance after application of kinesio tape in stroke patients. Key words: Stroke, kinesio tape, dynamic balance.

The efficacy of kinesio taping in the treatment of ankle sprain: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Review question / Objective: The purpose of this systematic review is to accurately evaluate the efficacy of kinesio tape for ankle sprains. Condition being studied: Ankle sprain may cause a series of problems, such as pain, swelling, and various dysfunctions. As a physical therapy method that has attracted much attention in recent years, kinesio tape has been proven to relieve pain, reduce swelling and promote functional recovery for some diseases. In this way, we can provide a reference for clinical physical therapy. Information sources: PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang Data, Technological periodical database, SinoMed.

The Effectiveness of Kinesio-Taping on Pain and Quality of Life in Participants with Lower Abdominal Surgery

Purpose: Many studies in physiotherapy using kinesio-tape are available to prevent and cure the musculoskeletal and neurological disorders in patients. However, few studies are available for using Kinesio-tape in abdominal surgery patients. Therefore, the need arises to assess the effectiveness of Kinesio-tape on pain and quality of life in participants with lower abdominal surgery. The secondary objectives are to assess the effectiveness of Kinesio-taping in improving patient outcomes in form of pain relief and ambulation as well the quality of life and to determine the level of prescribing of Kinesio-taping immediately after abdominal surgery. Relevance: The present study helps to manage post surgical patients providing quality life and faster recovery, less usage of analgesic drugs. Participants: Total 78 participants with age between 18years to 65 years old both males and females underwent lower abdominal surgery allocated randomly. Methods: The participants were divided into two groups: Control group received conventional treatment and experimental group received conventional treatment and Kinesio-taping. Following assessment tools were used as outcome measure in both the groups and was administered 4 hours of surgery. Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Abdominal Circumference (AC) and Post-operative Quality of Recovery 15 score (QoR 15). NPRS was done pre and post treatment on the basis of first 24hrs, 48hrs till 5th day post-operatively. AC was measured post treatment on the basis of first 24hrs, 48hrs till 5th day post-operatively. QoR-15 was taken post treatment on 2nd and 4th day. Analysis: Descriptive statistics and data was analysed on SPSS by adopting proper statistical tests i.e. Mann-Whitney test and one way ANOVA. Results: There was significant difference found between control and experimental group in all three outcome measures. Conclusion: There was faster recovery with kinesio-tape application in lower abdominal surgery participants. Implications: It is recommended to apply kinesio-tape with physiotherapy in post abdominal surgery. Key words: Pain, Kinesio-tape, Abdominal surgery.

Non-conventional therapies for analgesia

Purpose: Third molar surgery is a quite common procedure. Some patients experience pain associated with this situation. The aim of this article aims to discuss non-conventional therapies for the management of postoperative pain associated with third molar surgery. Methods: An extensive literature search was conducted with the keywords “third molar” + “pain” and all articles that excluded already established drugs as analgesics, anti-inflammatories, or therapies such as laser therapy and ozone therapy whereas non-conventional drugs and therapies were retained. Results: The article rated bromelain, honey, hyaluronic acid, nicotine patches, Kinesio tape, TENS, anticonvulsants, curcumin, and melatonin. Some therapies are efficient and safe, while others have not shown promising results. Conclusions: Bromelain and Kinesio tape are considered the most effective non-conventional therapies for controlling postoperative pain, and even with few studies on them, they are therapies with promising results.

Effect of different Kinesio tape tensions on experimentally-induced thermal and muscle pain in healthy adults

Athletes and rehabilitation specialists have used Kinesio tape (KT) to help alleviate pain symptoms. Currently, no clear mechanism exists as to why pain is relieved with the use of KT and whether the pain relieving effect is simply a placebo effect. Additionally, the most effective taping parameters (tension of tape) for pain reduction remain unknown. We used quantitative sensory testing to address these key gaps in the KT and pain literature. Using a repeated-measures laboratory design, we examined whether KT applied at different tensions reduces experimentally-induced pain compared to a no tape condition and KT with minimal tension. Heat pain thresholds (HPT’s), pressure pain thresholds (PPT’s), and pressure pain suprathreshold (PPS: 125% of PPT) tests were administered to the forearm prior to and during KT and no tape conditions. Tape was applied to the ventral forearm at 25% of max tension, 75% of max tension, and no tension (placebo). Repeated measures ANOVA’s evaluated the pain outcomes between conditions and across time. KT had no significant effect on PPT’s and HPT’s (p’s >0.05). The ANOVA on PPS revealed that KT applied at 25% of tension significantly reduced pain ratings from the pretest (M = 34.4, SE = 5.5) to post-test 1 (M = 30.3, SE = 4.7) and post-test 2 (M = 30.4, SE = 4.7). No other conditions significantly reduced suprathreshold pressure pain. However, pain ratings at posttest-1 during the no-tape condition (M = 36.4, SE = 5.3) were significantly greater than pain ratings during post-test 1 and post-test 2 of all three tape conditions. In conclusion, the current study revealed that KT applied at low tension is the optimal tension to reduce pressure-evoked muscle pain. Additionally, the results suggested that KT applied at low, high, or no tension may acutely prevent increased muscle sensitivity with repeated pressure stimulation.

Experience in the use of kinesio taping for the relief of algomenorrhea in adolescent girls in a children′s rehabilitation hospital

Introduction. The method of kinesio taping (Kenzo Kase, 1973) is actively gaining popularity among various medical specialists. This is due to the safety of the method and its proven effectiveness in certain pathological conditions and functional disorders. There are isolated publications showing the effectiveness of kinesio taping to reduce the manifestations of algomenorrhea.The aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of using the kinesio taping method for relieving pain in adolescent girls with functional algomenorrhea in a children′s rehabilitation hospital.Materials and methods. The material for the study was the results of observation of 38 girls aged 13 to 17 years, who were on inpatient treatment in the St. Petersburg Children′s rehabilitation center of orthopedics and traumatology «Ogonyok» and turned to the medical staff for help with painful mēnsēs in order to receive pharmacological correction (taking antispasmodics and/or NSAIDs), as well as with a request to change the rehabilitation program (cancellation of physical therapy or physiotherapy procedures for the period of pain). Based on the experience of Seyda Toprak Celenay and María Isabel Tomás-Rodríguez, in order to influence the severity of algomenorrhea syndrome in patients, kinesio taping of the suprapubic region was performed with a 5 cm wide cotton tape with a light tension in the range of 10–15 %. The intensity of the pain syndrome before and after kinesio taping was evaluated by the patient himself using a modified facial pain Scale [The Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R) according to Von Baeyer C. L. et al., 2001], and an instrumental assessment of the intensity of pain sensations was additionally performed using a dynamometer-algometer «MEGEON 04300».Results. The method of kinesio taping allows you to exclude (in 58 % of patients) or reduce (in 16% of patients) the use of pharmacological drugs. The inverse relationship between the subjective assessment of the intensity of pain syndrome by patients and the reduction of pain syndrome was established: that is, the greater the intensity of pain, the less likely the analgesic effect from the use of kinesio tape. The decrease in the pain syndrome of the girls was noted in the period of 1–12 hours (on average 3 hours 51 minutes) from the moment of applying the kinesio tape. Unfortunately, in the remaining 26 % of cases, the kinesiotaping method was not effective.Conclusion. The kinesiotaping method is justified for use in patients with algomenorrhea and often allows you to exclude or reduce the intake of pharmacological drugs.

The Direct Effect of Magnetic Tape® on Pain and Lower-Extremity Blood Flow in Subjects with Low-Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Low-back pain has a high impact on the world population, and solutions are in demand. The behavior of specific physiological processes has been modified using magnetic fields, whether for pain relief, bone consolidation, or improvement of vascularization. The use of tape with magnetic properties could help in these cases. A double-blind randomized clinical trial was designed to use Magnetic Tape® versus placebo Kinesio tape. Blood flow variables were evaluated using pulsed power Doppler ultrasound. Resistance index, pulsatility index, systolic velocity, and diastolic velocity were measured. The pressure pain threshold was measured using algometry in 22 subjects. The results reveal significant differences between the groups for the pulsation index variable (8.06 [5.16, 20.16] in Magnetic Tape® versus 5.50 [4.56, 6.64] in Kinesio tape) and lower (0.98 [0.92, 1.02] for Magnetic Tape® versus 0.99 [0.95, 1.01] for Kinesio tape) in the resistance index variable. The pressure pain threshold variable presented significant differences at multiple levels. The application of Magnetic Tape® causes immediate effects on blood flow and pain and could be a technique of choice for pain modulation. Further studies would be necessary.