Affiliations: [a] Allience of International Doctors, Kuwait İstanbul Prosthetic Orthotics Center, Istanbul, Turkey | [b] Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar, Istanbul, Turkey | [c] Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, İstanbul Medeniyet University, Istanbul, Turkey
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Nilüfer Kablan, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, İstanbul Medeniyet University, Istanbul, Turkey. E-mails: niluferkablan@yahoo.com, nilufer.kablan@medeniyet.edu.tr.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: In individuals with transfemoral amputation (TFA), adaptations caused by prosthesis use may adversely affect contractile/noncontractile structures. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immediate effect of the thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) kinesiology taping (KT) on the tone and stiffness of the fascia, low back pain (LBP) and standing balance in individuals with TFA. METHODS: Syrian male participants with TFA were enrolled in the prospective, single-blind, randomised controlled trial. Participants were divided into two groups: Experimental (EG with KT, n= 15) and Control (CG with sham KT, n= 14). A 6-minute walk test (6MWT) was performed, after which KT was applied. Measurements were taken at baseline, immediately after the 6MWT and 30 minutes after KT. RESULTS: Although pain decreased below baseline in both groups at 30 minutes post intervention (p< 0.001), the rate of pain reduction was significantly higher in the EG (p= 0.016). Anterior-posterior sway with eyes open improved significantly 30 minutes after KT application only in the EG (p= 0.010). In the eyes closed condition, anterior-posterior and medio-lateral sway decreased significantly compared to baseline 30 minutes after taping in the EG (p= 0.010-0.032). CONCLUSION: KT can be used as an effective method to support standing balance and reduce LBP in individuals with TFA.
Keywords: Amputation, fascia, low back ache, standing balance
