Kinesiotaping versus Acupressure in Treatment of Postnatal Low Back Pain

Abstract Background: Back pain was a dull ache starting soon after delivery and made worse by effort and relieved by rest. Examination showed only mild tenderness over the lumbar vertebrae. Other women had postural backache combined with pain over the sacroiliac joints. This pain was worse after sitting for long periods. Aim of Study: The aim of this study was to compare between kinesio tape and acupressure in treatment of postnatal low back pain. Patients and Methods: This study was conducted on thirty women suffering from post natal low back pain (fifteen days after labor to ensure complete involution of uterus), their age ranged from 20-35 years and their body mass index not exceeding 30 Kg/m2. The women were randomly selected from outpatient clinic of obstetrics and gynecology in New Cairo Police Hospital and Madinet Nasr Police Hospital. They were randomly assigned into two equal groups: Group A (kinesio tape group) 15 women and Group B (acupressure group) 15 women. Group A: They had kinesiotaping on their back upwards from S2 to L1, three times per week for 4 weeks, the tape lasts on the skin till the next session and removed two hours before the new session. Group B: They received acupressure therapy by both thumbs at a rate of one minute pressure followed by one minute relaxation, on four points (B22, B23, B25, B27) at lumbar region, three times for each point, three times per week for 4 weeks. The session lasts for 24 minutes. All women were evaluated for pain severity using visual analogue scale (VAS) and lumbar mobility using tape measurement immediately before participation in the study and after end of treatment program (4 weeks). Results: There were statistically significant decrease in pain severity and increase in lumbar range of motion in favor to group A when compared with group B. Conclusion: It can be concluded that taping-in comparison to acupressure - is amore effective physiotherapeutic modality for treating postnatal low back pain.