Does kinesio taping have an effect on kinetics and kinematics after lower limb musculoskeletal injuries? Systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Purpose

The systematic review aimed to investigate the effects of kinesio taping on the lower extremity kinetics and kinematics after a musculoskeletal disorder.

Method

Randomized controlled studies reported kinetic or kinematic outcomes (such as joint moment force or angular displacement) in the lower extremity with musculoskeletal disorders were included. A systematic literature search of Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, EBSCO, and PEDro databases was performed up to 28 February 2021. Meta-analysis was performed, when possible, by using mean difference (MD) and standard mean difference (SMD).

Results

Ten randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria. The results of a meta-analysis based on included studies show that the use of kinesio taping has similar effects on the kinetics of the lower extremities with musculoskeletal disorders or the control group. These effects do not change between 0 and 24 h, 1 and 15 days, and 15 and 30 days (SMD = 0.01, 95% CI −0.30 to 0.31, p = 0.21).

Conclusion

This study provides insufficient evidence to prove the effect of kinesio taping on lower extremity kinetics and kinematics on patients with musculoskeletal disorders in shorter and longer terms. Methodologically well-designed studies are needed to show the effectiveness of kinesio tape on lower extremity kinetics and kinematics after a musculoskeletal disorder in short and longer terms.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• The present evidence does not support the effects of Kinesio tape on lower extremity kinetics in patients with a musculoskeletal pathology

• More evidenced based studies are still needed to show the effects of kinesio taping on lower extremity kinetics in patients with a musculoskeletal pathology

• This meta-analysis demonstrated that kinesio taping had no effect for up to 30 days within the scope of the results obtained from the studies, except for the immediate effect of the application.

Keywords:

• Athletic tape
• kinesio tape
• kinetics
• kinematics
• lower extremity
• musculoskeletal disorder
• physical therapy modalities

Disclosure statement

The author(s) declare no potential conflict of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.