509: Immediate Effects of Lumbar Kinesio Taping on Proprioception, Strength, and Pain in Low Back Pain

Topic: Clinical Science
Subtopic: Pain category (ICD-11), Other chronic pain category, Physiotherapy (e.g. exercise, rehab), Physiotherapy

Background and Aims: Non-specific low back pain is a highly prevalent musculoskeletal condition associated with impaired neuromuscular control and trunk muscle function. Kinesio taping is a commonly used non-invasive intervention that may enhance proprioceptive input and muscle activation through cutaneous stimulation. However, evidence regarding the immediate effects of lumbar kinesio taping on proprioception and trunk muscle strength remains limited.

The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of lumbar kinesio taping on lumbar proprioception, muscle strength, and pain intensity in individuals with non-spesific low back pain, compared with sham taping.

Methods: This prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled study included 65 individuals with low back pain, who were randomly allocated using computer-generated randomization to either a real kinesio taping group (n = 35) or a sham taping group (n = 30). All participants were evaluated before and immediately after the taping application. Lumbar proprioception was assessed using the joint position sense. Transversus abdominis and posterior pelvic tilt muscles’ strengths were evaluated using a pressure biofeedback unit. Pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analog Scale.
Within-group comparisons (pre- and post-taping) were conducted using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Between-group comparisons were performed using the Mann–Whitney-U test.

Results: In the kinesio taping group, significant acute improvements were observed in lumbar proprioception (p=0.017) as well as transversus abdominis (p<0.001) and posterior pelvic tilt muscles’ strengths (p=0.001) following the application, whereas no significant change was found in pain intensity (p>0.05). In contrast, no significant changes were detected in any of the evaluated parameters in the sham taping group (p>0.05). Between-group comparisons demonstrated significantly greater increases in transversus abdominis muscle strength (p=0.003) in the kinesio taping group compared with the sham group, while all other outcomes were comparable between groups (p>0.05).

Conclusions: Lumbar kinesio taping appears to have beneficial immediate effects on lumbar proprioception and muscle strength in individuals with low back pain, without producing a significant change in pain intensity.

References: Afitap İÇAĞASIOĞLU, Y. Y. A., Ayşegül KETENCİ, Naciye Füsun TORAMAN, et all. (2015). Burden of Chronic Low Back Pain in the Turkish Population

Ayşegül Ketenci, M. Z. (2021). Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment approaches to chronic lumbar back pain.

Celenay, S. T., & Kaya, D. O. (2019). Immediate effects of kinesio taping on pain and postural stability in patients with chronic low back pain. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 23(1), 206-210.

da Silva, T., Mills, K., Brown, B. T., et all. (2019). Recurrence of low back pain is common: a prospective inception cohort study. Journal of physiotherapy, 65(3), 159-165.

Kase, K. (2003). Clinical therapeutic applications of the Kinesio taping method. Albuquerque.

Presenting Author: Nagihan Acet
Submitting Author: Nagihan Acet

Senior Author: Nagihan Acet

IASP 2026 Global Year theme of Neuropathic Pain: No

• Sema Arslan: MSc - Atılım University
• Rabia ATAYLI: Bachelor’s degree graduate - Atılım University
• Narmin RZAKHANOVA: Bachelor’s degree graduate - Atılım University
• Mina BAŞÇUHADAR: Bachelor’s degree graduate - Atılım University
• Aysel AleynA USLU: Bachelor’s degree graduate - Atılım University