The effect of Kinesio taping on back pain in patients with Lenke Type 1 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigated the short-term effects of KT on back pain (BP) in patients with LenkeType 1 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).Methods: We chosen Lenke Type 1 scoliosis who have had only back pain (the localization of the pain:the only in the apical convex edge). Forty patients suffering from BP with Lenke Type 1 AIS wererandomly separated into two groups, Group 1 (20 patients) and Group 2 (20 patients). Group 1 was givenKT with tension and home exercises and Group 2 was given KT without tension and home exercises. KTand home exercises was applied to the thoracic area of the patients in both groups for four weeks. Painintensity was measured using a visual analog scale (VAS) and SRS-22 (subtotal SRS-20) before and aftertreatment.Results: Mean age of both groups was 16.1 years. Mean Cobb angle of the thoracic scoliosis was 31.8(range: 17e44) in Group 1 and 32.8(range: 19e43) in Group 2 before the treatment. The decrease inVAS score of Group 1 after taping was higher than that of Group 2. The difference between the pre- andpost-treatment VAS scores of both groups was statistically signiŞcant (p < 0.05). The increase in meanSRS-20 score of Group 1 following taping application was signiŞcantly higher than the increase in thecontrol group (p< 0.05).Conclusion: Results demonstrated that KT application with tension effectively leads to back pain reliefshortly after application. In addition, KT has a positive impact on quality of life. Thus, KT may be asuitable intervention in treating back pain of patients with AIS.Level of Evidence: Level 1, Therapeutic study.