Comparison of effectiveness of different kinesiological taping techniques in patients with chronic low back pain: A double-blind, randomized-controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the effects of kinesiological taping (KT) method combined with physiotherapy modalities and exercise therapy on the severity of pain, range of lumbar motion, and degree of disability. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between November 2015 and November 2016, a total of 125 patients (63 males, 62 females; mean age 45 years; range, 20 to 65 years) who were diagnosed with chronic non-specific low back pain were included in this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. The patients were randomly assigned to four groups. All groups received the same physiotherapy modalities and exercise therapy. Group 1 received physiotherapy modalities and exercise therapy alone; Group 2 received additional sham KT; Group 3 received additional KT with a space correction technique; and Group 4 received additional KT with a fascia correction technique. Kinesiological taping was applied for three weeks with five-day intervals and four times in total. The patients were evaluated at baseline (Day 0), at the end of the treatment (Day 21), and on Day 51. Pain severity using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), ranges of lumbar motion using the fingertip-to-floor distances and modified lumbar Schober test, and the degree of disability using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) were evaluated. RESULTS: We found a significant difference among the groups in terms of VAS motion T0-51 changes (p<0.05). There was also a significant difference among the groups in terms of T0-21 and T0-51 changes in the ODI and RMDQ (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study results suggest that KT ensures reduction in pain and disability, irrespective of the technique of taping, with sustainable short-term effects following the end of the treatment.

Effects of Therapeutic Ultrasound Applied to the Lumbar Region on Renal Function: A Randomized Controlled Prospective Trial.

OBJECTIVES: Therapeutic ultrasound (TUS) is one of the most commonly used modalities in low back pain treatment. The objective of this study was to determine whether TUS applied to the low back region in patients with chronic low back pain had any effect on renal function. METHODS: Forty patients with chronic low back pain were randomized to 2 groups by a block randomization method. Thirty-seven patients completed the final evaluation. All patients were treated for 5 sessions per week for 3 weeks with the same physiotherapy modalities (superficial heating and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) and exercise therapy; in addition to these treatments, the second group was treated with TUS for 10 minutes (frequency, 1 MHz; intensity, 1.5 W/cm2 ; and effective irradiation area of the transducer head, 5 cm2 ). The serum creatinine, serum cystatin C, 24-hour urine creatinine, creatinine clearance, 24-hour urine microalbumin and microprotein, urine volume, and glomerular filtration rate were measured. The patients were evaluated at baseline (day 0) and the end of the treatment (day 21). RESULTS: The serum cystatin C levels were increased in both groups, but this increase was not significant (P > .05). There was no difference between the groups in the percent change in all outcome measures (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: This showed that TUS applied to the low back region does not affect renal function.