Hıghlıghts
- •The impact of Kinesio taping, especially on pain, may remain unchanged as a residual effect in the short term following treatment.
- •In the Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE), pain scores showed significant improvement in true taping group compared to the placebo taping group.
- •The pain reduction achieved by Kinesio taping has been helpful for adherence at the beginning of an exercise program.
- •The effects of Kinesio taping on muscle strength, quality of life, and function in chronic lateral epicondylitis are not superior to placebo.
Abstract
Background
Lateral epicondylitis is degenerative tendinosis of the extensor carpi radialis brevis
muscle and is the most common work/sports-related chronic musculoskeletal problem
affecting the elbow.
Purpose
This study aimed to evaluate the short term and residual effectiveness of the Kinesio
taping method on pain, grip force, quality of life, and functionality.
Study Design
Randomized, double-blinded, controlled study.
Methods
Subjects were 50 patients diagnosed with chronic unilateral lateral epicondylitis
with a symptom duration of at least 12 weeks. During the first four weeks, the study
group received a true inhibitor Kinesio taping while the control group received sham
taping. In both groups, progressive stretching and strengthening exercises were given
as a home program for six weeks. The primary outcome measure was the Numerical Rating
Scale (NRS) for self-report of pain intensity; secondary outcome measures were Cyriax
resistive muscle test evaluation, maximal grip strength, Patient- Rated Tennis Elbow
Evaluation (PRTEE), and Short Form-36 (SF-36). After the treatment, patients were
evaluated by the first assessor who was blinded to taping types.
Results
There was a significant decrease in NRS scores overtime during the first four weeks
in both groups (P < .001,) and effect sizes were large. There was no significant difference in Cyriax
muscle resistance test maximal grip strength between groups (P > .05). However, there was a significant improvement in muscle strength of elbow
extension and pronation in the study group detected in the intragroup analysis. Intragroup
comparisons also showed a significant improvement in all subunits of the PRTEE and
SF-36 except energy/vitality, social functioning, and pain in both groups (P < .05) with moderate to high effect sizes. PRTEE pain scores were significantly decreased
in the study group compared to the placebo group (P < .05, d = 0.48).
Conclusion
The effects of Kinesio taping on muscle strength, quality of life, and function in
chronic lateral epicondylitis are not superior to placebo. However, NRS scores showed
that in the two weeks after Kinesio taping treatment, pain reduction persisted as
a residual effect which may improve the exercise adherence and functionality.
Keywords
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JHT Read for Credit
Quiz: # 935
Record your answers on the Return Answer Form found on the tear-out coupon at the back of this issue or to complete online and use a credit card, go to JHTReadforCredit.com. There is only one best answer for each question.
- # 1.The design of the study is
- a.retrospective cohort
- b.RCTs
- c.case series
- d.descriptive
- a.
- # 2.Outcome factors were
- a.function
- b.grip
- c.pain
- d.all of the above
- a.
- # 3.The primary outcome measure used was the
- a.quick DASH
- b.DASH
- c.NRS
- d.PREE
- a.
- # 4.Pain scores were
- a.similar in both groups
- b.significantly reduced in the experimental group
- c.significantly reduced in the placebo group
- d.considered insignificant in the final analysis
- a.
- # 5.The authors did NOT find that Kinesio taping was superior to placebo in effecting quality of life, muscle strength, or function
- a.true
- b.false
- a.
When submitting to the HTCC for re-certification, please batch your JHT RFC certificates in groups of 3 or more to get full credit.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 01, 2021
Accepted:
September 13,
2021
Received in revised form:
July 26,
2021
Received:
August 19,
2020
Footnotes
Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
