Immediate and Short-Term Effects of Kinesio Taping Tightness in Mechanical Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: There is controversy regarding the best technique for applying Kinesio Taping (KT), and the theory supporting that skin convolutions may explain its efficacy has recently been challenged. OBJECTIVE: To compare the immediate and short-term effectiveness of KT tightness on mechanosensitivity and spinal mobility in nonspecific low back pain (LBP), and to observe the influence of gender in the outcome measures. DESIGN: Double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: University-based clinical research center. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 75 individuals with a mean age of 33 years (±7.4 years), 60% female and 40% male, with nonspecific LBP were recruited and randomly assigned to 1 of the following study groups: standard KT tension (n = 26), increased KT tension (n = 25), and no KT tension (n = 24). INTERVENTIONS: All participants received a two I-strip taping over the paravertebral muscles for 24 hours. Paper-off tension (15%-25% of the available stretch) was used in the standard KT group, which was increased to 40% in the increased KT tension group. The rest of participants received a taping procedure with no KT tension. Measurements were taken at baseline, immediately after the taping, 24 hours after the taping, and after KT removal. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome included pressure pain thresholds over the erector spinae and gluteus medius muscles. The secondary outcome was lumbar mobility (assessed with a digital inclinometer, and back-saver sit-and-reach, finger-to-floor, and sit-and-reach tests). RESULTS: In the between-groups analysis of the mean score changes after baseline assessment, no significant differences were found for any of the outcome measures (P > .05) except the left back-saver sit-and-reach test (P = .03). A statistically significant interaction group × gender × time was observed only for mechanosensitivity values (P = .02 for the gluteus and P = .01 for the erector spinae). CONCLUSION: KT tightness does not seem to influence pain sensitivity and lumbar mobility in chronic LBP in either the immediate or short term. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Changes in body balance and functional performance following whole-body vibration training in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether an 8-week exercise programme supplemented with whole-body vibration improves body balance and dynamic strength in women with fibromyalgia. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. PATIENTS: Forty-six participants diagnosed with fibromyalgia. METHODS: Participants were randomly assigned to: (i) an exercise training group with whole-body vibration (n = 15), which performed twice-weekly exercise sessions (aerobic exercise, strengthening and flexibility) combined with 3 whole-body vibration training sessions a week (bilateral squats: 6-9 sets of 30 s with 45-s recovery between sets; and unilateral squat: 4-7 sets of 30 s, 30 Hz-4 mm); (ii) an exercise group (n = 15) with the same combined exercise therapy; and (iii) a usual-care control group (n = 16). RESULTS: Statistically significant improvements in the Medio-Lateral Stability Index and Medio-Lateral Mean Deflection with open eyes were found in the whole-body vibration exercise group compared with the control group. Non-significant effects were found for lower-limb physical function. CONCLUSION: The results show that a traditional exercise programme, supplemented with whole-body vibration training, improved balance in women with fibromyalgia. This may represent a key factor for falls prevention in this patient group.

Effect of whole-body vibration exercise on balance in women with fibromyalgia syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a 6-week "usual care" exercise program supplemented with whole-body vibration (WBV) to improve balance and strength in women with fibromyalgia (FM). DESIGN: This was a randomized controlled study. SETTINGS: The setting was a physical therapy department in an academic setting. SUBJECTS: The subjects were 30 postmenopausal women with FM (age: 59±7.90 years). INTERVENTIONS: Subjects were randomized into one of two groups: an experimental group (EG: n=15), which combined exercise training (2 days a week) with 3 days of WBV, and a control group (CG: n=15), who performed the same exercise training program (2 days a week) but without WBV. OUTCOME MEASURES: Balance and muscle strength were measured at baseline and after the 6-week intervention. RESULTS: Significant differences were found (p<0.05) between the study groups for the Medio-Lateral Stability Index (MLSI), when patients were assessed with their eyes open and closed. The effect size of the improvement was large with eyes closed (R2=0.260) and moderate when the eyes were open (R2=0.047). However, no significant differences were found (p>0.05) between the study groups for other outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Women with FM may increase their MLSI by engaging in a 6-week traditional exercise program with supplementary WBV. This may have implications for falls prevention in this patient group.