Pain-diminishing effects of Kinesio® taping after median sternotomy

Background: Postoperative pain and severe side effects of opioid analgesics present a clinical challenge after cardio-thoracic surgery. In this study, the impact of Kinesio® taping on postoperative morbidity after median sternotomy was observed. Methods: Thirty-nine patients (mean age 66 ± 9 years, CI: 63.28; 68.98) who underwent median sternotomy between 09/2014 and 11/2014 participated in this prospective randomized controlled trial. Patients were assigned into a treatment on a non-treatment group. Patients in the treatment group were taped after leaving the intensive care unit. We assessed, pain, consumption of pain medication, the subjective estimation of patients’ ability to breathe, radiologic and microbial abnormalities as well as adverse effects resulting from the tape use daily until discharge. To determine the patients’ satisfaction a discharge questionnaire was offered after completion of data. Results: Patients who were treated with tape report significantly less pain (2.14 ± 0.5, CI: 1.1; 3.13) than patients from the control group (4.16 ± 0.6, CI: 2.92; 5.41, p = 0.01). The need for opioid pain medication, as assessed by total analgesic consumption per patient, was significantly less in the treatment group (1.2 ml ± 0.4 ml, CI: 0.40 ml; 2.01 ml) versus (3.1 ml ± 0.5 ml, CI: 2.0 ml; 4.2 ml, p = 0.01). The subjective estimation of patients’ ability to breathe was significantly better (p < 0.001) and the satisfaction was higher in the Kinesio® tape group compared to the control group. Taped patients had a mean hospitalization of 10 ± 1 day (CI: 8.74 days; 11.78 days) untapped patients stayed for 11 ± 1 days (CI: 9.17 days; 11.83 days). Adverse effects from the tape treatment were not observed. Conclusions: Kinesio® taping after median sternotomy is a low-risk, non-pharmacologic, cost effective, and promising method for improving patients’ breathing conditions, reducing postoperative pain, pain medication consumption, and thus, potential adverse effects of analgesics.     

The effects of connective tissue manipulation and Kinesio Taping on chronic constipation in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of connective tissue manipulation (CTM) and Kinesio Taping^® (KT) on constipation and quality of life in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Method: This study was designed as a randomized controlled trial. Forty children diagnosed with chronic constipation based on Rome III criteria were randomly assigned to CTM group [6 females, 7 males; 8 y 6?mo (SD = 3y 4?mo)], KT group [7 female, 7 male; 8y 7?mo (SD =3y 5?mo)] or control group [6 female, 7 male; 8y 3?mo (SD = 3y 6?mo)]. All patients were assessed with 7-day bowel diaries, Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PEDsQL). Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon’s signed-rank, and Mann–Whitney U tests were used to determine intra-group and inter-group differences. The level of significance was p?Results: Among the CTM, KT, and control groups, there were statistically significant differences regarding the changes in defecation frequency (2.46, 3.00, 0.30, ES 1.16, p?p?=?0.003), BSFS (1.84, 2.14, 0.07, ES 0.91, p?p?p?Conclusions: This study revealed that CTM and KT seem equally effective physiotherapy approaches for the treatment of pediatric constipation and these approaches may be added to bowel rehabilitation program.

• Implications for rehabilitation

• CTM and KT have similar effectiveness in alleviating the constipation-related symptoms and improving quality of life in children with CP.

• CTM and KT can be integrated into bowel rehabilitation programs.

• Considering the characteristics of patients, these treatment options can be used as an alternative of each other by physiotherapists.

     

Effectiveness of thoracic kinesio taping on respiratory function and muscle strength in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A protocol of randomized,double-blind placebo-controlled trial

Background:To our knowledge, only 1 study has investigated the effects of kinesio taping (KT) on pulmonary function and functional capacity of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Therefore, there is still a lack of high-quality evidence to prove the effectiveness of KT for COPD patients. Our purpose was to investigate the effect of KT on respiratory function and muscle strength in the COPD patients who were in stable condition.Methods:This research project has been received ethical approval from the Medical Research and Ethics Committee in Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China. This work is a part of a comprehensive research project to assess and provide intervention that potentially improves respiratory function and quality of life among patients with COPD. Participants recruited into the study need to fulfill the following criteria: clinical diagnosis of COPD and symptoms indicative of exacerbation; spontaneous breathing on hospital admission; and physiotherapy since the first day of hospitalization. Patients will be assigned at random to the COPD medical treatment + KT (Group 1), or the COPD medical treatment alone (Group 2). The outcome measures are pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength. The level of statistical significance is set as P < .05.Results:This protocol will provide a reliable theoretical basis for the following research.Conclusions:It was hypothesized that thoracic KT could significantly change pulmonary function and functional capacity in patients with COPD.Trial registration:This study protocol was registered in Research Registry (researchregistry6632).     

软组织贴扎技术对老年膝关节内侧副韧带损伤后的康复疗效观察

目的观察软组织贴扎技术治疗老年患者膝关节内侧副韧带损伤后膝关节功能障碍的康复疗效果,为治疗该病提供方法。方法选择2019年5月-2020年12月于上海市仁济医院宝山分院康复治疗科和骨科就诊的老年患者共52例,采用随机数字表随机分为2组:试验组(n=27)和对照组(n=25)。对照组采取常规康复治疗,试验组在与对照组相同的常规康复治疗基础上,加用软组织贴扎技术治疗。检测并比较2组治疗前后VAS疼痛评分和Lysholm膝关节评分。结果治疗前,2组VAS疼痛评分和Lysholm膝关节评分均差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。治疗后,2组VAS分值均明显低于同组治疗前(P<0.05),Lysholm分值均明显高于同组治疗前(P<0.05);且试验组VAS分值明显低于对照组,而Lysholm分值明显高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论在常规康复治疗基础上增加软组织贴扎技术治疗,可有效缓解老年膝关节内侧副韧带损伤患者疼痛,促进膝关节功能的恢复,具有一定的临床应用价值。     

Kinesio Taping? is not better than placebo in reducing pain and disability in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial

Background:

Kinesio Taping ^® has been widely used in clinical practice. However, it is unknown whether this type of tape is more effective than placebo taping in patients with chronic lower back pain.

Objective:

To compare the effectiveness of Kinesio Taping ^® in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain against a placebo tape and a control group.

Method:

This is a 3-arm, randomized controlled trial with a blinded assessor. Sixty patients with chronic non-specific low back pain were randomized into one of the three groups: Kinesio Taping ^® group (n=20), Micropore^® (placebo) group (n=20) and control group (n=20). Patients allocated to both the Kinesio Taping ^® group and the placebo group used the different types of tape for a period of 48 hours. The control group did not receive any intervention. The outcomes measured were pain intensity (measured by an 11-point numerical rating scale) and disability (measured by the 24-item Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire). A blinded assessor measured the outcomes at baseline, 48 hours and 7 days after randomization.

Results:

After 48 hours, there was a statistically significant difference between the Kinesio Taping ^® group versus the control group (mean between-group difference = -3.1 points, 95% CI=-5.2 to -1.1, p=0.003), but no difference when compared to the placebo group (mean between-group difference= 1.9 points, 95% CI=-0.2 to 3.9, p=0.08). For the other outcomes no differences were observed.

Conclusions:

The Kinesio Taping ^® is not better than placebo (Micropore^®) in patients with chronic low back pain.     

A narrative review of manual muscle testing and implications for muscle testing research

Objective

Manual muscle testing (MMT) is used for a variety of purposes in health care by medical, osteopathic, chiropractic, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and athletic training professionals. The purpose of this study is to provide a narrative review of variations in techniques, durations, and forces used in MMT putting applied kinesiology (AK) muscle testing in context and highlighting aspects of muscle testing important to report in MMT research.

Method

PubMed, the Collected Papers of the International College of Applied Kinesiology–USA, and related texts were searched on the subjects of MMT, maximum voluntary isometric contraction testing, and make/break testing. Force parameters (magnitude, duration, timing of application), testing variations of MMT, and normative data were collected and evaluated.

Results

“Break” tests aim to evaluate the muscle's ability to resist a gradually increasing pressure and may test different aspects of neuromuscular control than tests against fixed resistances. Applied kinesiologists use submaximal manual break tests and a binary grading scale to test short-term changes in muscle function in response to challenges. Many of the studies reviewed were not consistent in reporting parameters for testing.

Conclusions

To increase the chances for replication, studies using MMT should specify parameters of the tests used, such as exact procedures and instrumentation, duration of test, peak force, and timing of application of force.     

穴位埋线、耳压、敷脐治疗顽固性高血压临床疗效观察

评价穴住埋线、耳压、敷脐疗法治疗顽固性高血压临床疗效。方法：90例患者随机分为3组：西药组、外治组和综合组，每组30例，西药组服用双氢克尿噻片、硝苯地平缓释片、马来酸依那普利片；外治组采用穴位埋线、耳压、敷脐治疗；综合组为西药与外治法联用，观察治疗4周。结果：降压疗效综合组总有效率70％，与西药组43．3％、外治组40％相比有显著性差异（P〈0．05）.结论：穴位埋线、耳压、敷脐疗法配合西药可以有效地治疗顽固性高血压。