The Effect of I-Shaped Kinesiotaping on Pain,Functionality,and Wound Healing After Lumbar Disc Surgery: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background and Aim

Kinesiotape is commonly used as a complementary therapy, but its results can vary substantially. This study aims to evaluate the effects of I-shaped kinesiotaping on patients’ pain levels, functionality, and wound healing after lumbar disc surgery.

Design

Placebo-randomized controlled trial.

Settings

A public hospital.

Participants

Eighty patients undergoing lumbar discectomy, with a mean age of 49.9 ± 13.1 years, were randomized to either the kinesiotaping (kinesio) or placebo group.

Intervention

The kinesio group had I-shaped kinesiotape applied 24 hours after surgery and on postoperative days 5, 10, 15, and 20, while the placebo group received placebo taping.

Main Measures

A visual analog scale for pain, analgesic medication use, the Oswestry Disability Index, the Functional Low Back Pain Scale, and wound healing were assessed on the 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, and 30th days post-surgery.

Results

Significant time effects were observed for both groups, with the kinesio group showing reductions in pain, analgesic medication use, and disability, along with improvements in functionality (effect size ƞ² = 0.435–0.713, p < 0.001). The placebo group showed similar changes (effect size ƞ² = 0.567–0.714, p < 0.001). No significant group or interaction effects were found.

Conclusions

Post-lumbar disc surgery, kinesiotaping did not show significant advantages in pain control, analgesic use reduction, disability improvement, or wound healing. The trial protocol is available on https://ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05476718) (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05476718).