The Effect of Different Kinesio Taping Techniques Applied to Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain on the Thoracolumbar Fascia

Official title

The Effect of Different Kinesio Taping Techniques Applied to Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain on the Thoracolumbar Fascia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Overview

This study aims to evaluate the effects of functional thoracolumbar fascia kinesiology taping on fascia thickness, pain, and functional disability in individuals with nonspecific chronic low back pain. The study is planned as a randomized controlled trial and will include a total of 30 individuals aged 18-65 years who have been diagnosed with nonspecific mechanical chronic low back pain. Participants will be randomly assigned to two groups: the Functional Fascial Taping Group will receive kinesiology tape applied to the thoracolumbar fascia using a fascia correction technique, while the Muscle Technique Taping Group will receive traditional muscle taping applied to the paravertebral muscles. Interventions will be performed twice a week for two weeks. Assessments will be performed before and after treatment; pain intensity will be measured using the Visual Analog Scale, pressure pain threshold will be measured using an algometer, functional disability will be measured using the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Index, and thoracolumbar fascia thickness will be measured using ultrasonography. The findings are expected to contribute to clinical practice by providing evidence-based data on the effectiveness of different kinesiology taping techniques in chronic low back pain.

Detailed description

Non-specific chronic low back pain is a highly prevalent musculoskeletal condition associated with recurrent symptoms, functional limitations, and substantial psychosocial burden. Current clinical practice frequently relies on passive treatment approaches, including various taping techniques; however, the specific effects of different kinesio taping methods on fascial structures remain insufficiently explored. In particular, objective evidence regarding changes in thoracolumbar fascia morphology following targeted taping interventions is limited.

This randomized controlled study aims to compare the effects of functional fascial kinesio taping and conventional muscle taping on thoracolumbar fascia thickness, pain perception, and functional disability in individuals with non-specific chronic low back pain. Participants diagnosed with non-specific mechanical chronic low back pain will be randomly allocated to one of two intervention groups. One group will receive functional fascial taping applied according to movement-based pain modulation principles, while the comparison group will receive traditional muscle-oriented kinesio taping. Both interventions will be administered over a short-term treatment period without additional therapeutic modalities to isolate the effects of taping.

Outcome assessment will focus on changes in pain intensity, pressure pain sensitivity, functional disability, and thoracolumbar fascial characteristics. Fascial thickness will be evaluated using ultrasonographic imaging to provide an objective measure of tissue-level response. By integrating subjective clinical outcomes with imaging-based assessment, this study seeks to clarify whether taping strategies that target fascial mechanics offer advantages over conventional muscle-focused approaches.

The findings are expected to contribute to evidence-based decision-making in rehabilitation practice by informing clinicians about the potential role of fascia-oriented taping in the management of chronic low back pain, while minimizing redundancy with procedural and technical details documented elsewhere in the study record.

Interventions

• Other Functional Fascial Taping Group
  The treatment program for the Functional Fascial Taping Group is as follows: Participants in this group will undergo a targeted fascial correction technique applied to the thoracolumbar fascia. In practice, "I" and "Y" strips cut from 5 cm x 5 m kinesiology tape will be used, and the tapes will be applied to the right and left thoracolumbar fascia with an oscillatory (oscillating) tension in the range of 10-50%. The protocol will be repeated for a total of 2 weeks (4 sessions), twice a week, and
• Other Muscle Technique Taping Group
  In this group, the more traditional approach of muscle taping will be adopted. The application will be performed using three "I"-shaped strips of tape. The first two strips will be placed completely tension-free (0%) on the paravertebral muscles while the patient is leaning forward and performing a slight rotation. The third tape will be applied transversally with 25% tension, parallel to the ground, over the sacroiliac joints. This protocol will also be applied twice a week for two weeks, with
• Other Damascus Banding Group
  The taping applied in this group will not aim to correct any muscles or fascia, will be performed without applying therapeutic tension (0% tension), and will not produce a standard clinical effect. At the end of the study, all participants will be informed that they can access known effective taping approaches upon request.
• Other Traditional treatment
  Patients in the stabilization exercise group will be given cervical stabilization exercises consisting of 3 levels with gradually increasing difficulty. The exercises will be taught to patients level by level by a physical therapist over 6 weeks. Patients will perform the exercises for a total of 6 weeks. Patients will be asked to perform stretching exercises before each exercise session.

Primary outcome measures

• Pain intensity [Time frame: 6 week]
• The thoracolumbar fascia thickness/ULTRASOUND [Time frame: 6 week]

Secondary outcome measures (7)

• LOW BACK PAIN DISABILITY [Time frame: 6 week]
• Posture [Time frame: 6 week]
• Lateral Bridge Testt [Time frame: 6 week]
• Spinal Mobility: [Time frame: 6 week]
• Postural Endurance (Postural Competence): [Time frame: 6 week]
• Static Trunk Extension Test (Sorensen Test): [Time frame: 6 week]
• Trunk Flexor Endurance Test [Time frame: 6 week]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Age: Be between 18 and 65 years old.
• Volunteer status: Be willing to participate in the study and sign an informed consent form.
• Diagnosis: Have been diagnosed by a physician with nonspecific mechanical chronic low back pain. This diagnosis is defined as follows:
• A pain episode lasting longer than 6 weeks or
• A history of recurrent low back pain (episodes lasting longer than 24 hours with at least one pain-free period of one month before/after the episode).
• Localization: Pain localized between the lowest rib and the gluteal folds.

Exclusion criteria

• Specific Spinal Pathologies: The presence of a specific cause for back pain (e.g., structural abnormalities such as herniation, stenosis, spondylolisthesis).
• History of Major Trauma: A history of serious trauma to the back region.
• Systemic Diseases: Systemic diseases that may affect the outcome, such as rheumatological diseases or diabetes.
• History of Cancer: Any cancer diagnosis or history.
• Osteoporosis: Diagnosis of bone loss.
• Inflammatory or Neurological Diseases: Diagnosis of inflammatory rheumatic diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis or a neurological disease.
• Radicular Pain: Presence of radicular pain radiating to the legs, suggesting nerve root compression.

Skin Conditions:

• Known skin sensitivity or allergy to the patches.
• Active dermatitis or pre-existing skin lesion in the patch application area.
• Recent Treatments: Having undergone a physical therapy and rehabilitation (PTR) program targeting the lumbar region or an intervention such as an injection within the last 3 months prior to the start of the study.

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

Randomized

Model

Parallel assignment

Masking

Single blind

Primary purpose

Treatment

Study locations

Turkey (Türkiye) · 1 center

• Kirşehir Ahi Evran Univercity — Center

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07317518 · 52066301980.

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗