Affiliations: [a] Faculty of Health Sciences of Trairí, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Santa Cruz, Brazil | [b] Allied Health Research unit, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK | [c] Physiotherapy Department, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil | [d] Technology Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Liane Brito Macedo, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde do Trairí, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Rua Teodorico Bezerra, Santa Cruz/RN, Brazil. Tel.: +55 84 3342 2287; E-mail: lianebmacedo@yahoo.com.br.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of different taping techniques on back muscle fatigue in people with low back pain. METHODS: Sixty women with chronic non-specific low back pain were randomly assigned to four groups of 15 participants each: control (CG), Kinesio Taping (KT) with tension (KTT), KT no tension (KTNT) and Micropore® (MP), which were applied over the erector spinae muscles. The median frequency (MF) fatigue slopes of the longissimus muscle and sustained contraction time during a trunk fatigue test (Ito test), and pain using the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) were collected at three time points: pre-treatment, three and ten days after intervention at a university laboratory. RESULTS: Significant differences were seen in the MF slopes between groups (p= 0.01, η2= 0.20), with the KTT showing a mean difference (MD = 0.31, p= 0.04) and KTNT (MD = 0.28, p= 0.04) compared with CG. Significant reductions in NPRS were seen between time points (p< 0.001, η2= 0.28), with a reduction between pre and 3 days (MD = 1.87, p< 0.001), and pre and 10 days (MD = 1.38, p< 0.001), with KTT and KTNT both showing clinically important changes. CONCLUSION: KT, with or without tension, has a tendency to reduce back muscle fatigue and reduce pain in individuals with chronic non-specific low back pain.
