Comparison of the Effect of Kinesio Taping and Manual Lymphatic Drainage on Breast Engorgement in Postpartum Women: A Randomized-Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objectives:

To investigate the effect of kinesio taping (KT) and manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) on pain severity, breast engorgement, and milk volume in postpartum women.

Materials and Methods:

In this prospective randomized-controlled trial, we recruited 67 postpartum women who had breast engorgement and randomly assigned them to the KT, MLD, and control group. In the KT group, taping plus breast care was performed, MLD plus breast care was performed in the MLD group, and in the control group, only routine breast care was given for 10 days. Pain, breast engorgement, body temperature, and milk volume were measured. Examinations were repeated on days 1, 4, and 10.

Results:

The MLD group had significant reductions in pain and breast engorgement at all postintervention days compared with the control and KT group (p < 0.05). Milk volume increased among three groups, but the change in the MLD group was higher than in the KT and control groups (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the milk volume among the KT and control groups at all postintervention days (p > 0.05).

Conclusions:

MLD relieved breast pain and firmness more and increased milk volume in postpartum women compared with the KT and control groups. MLD can be recommended to postnatal mothers to better manage breast engorgement.