Immediate Effect of Kinesio Taping on Dynamic Balance in Different Grades of Pain Intensity in Chronic Mechanical Low Back Pain

Abstract Background: Low back pain (LBP) has been a significant public health problem. Recently, it has been shown that Kinesio taping (KT) applications, alleviate pain and impairment quickly after the application in CMLBP. Aim of Study: To investigate the immediate and 48 hour effects after kinesio tape application on dynamic balance in dif-ferent grades of pain intensity in patients with chronic mechan-ical low back pain (CMLBP). Subjects and Methods: Forty-five male and female pa-tients, with age between 18-40 years old, and body mass index from 18 to 30 (kg/m2), diagnosed with CMLBP. The Patients were subdivided into three groups according to Arabic Numer-ical Paine Rating Scale (ANPRS), group A (n=15) had a mild degree CMLBP, group B (n=15) had a moderate degree CML-BP, group C (n=15) had a severe degree CMLBP, all received a star-shape kinesio tape application and assessed for dynamic balance by Biodex balance system and pain intensity by Ar-abic Numerical Pain Rating Scale as a primary outcome and global rating of change (GROC) as secondary outcome, three times (pre-application, immediately after and 48hour after KT application). Results: MANOVA testing revealed that the mean value of pain in group A significantly reduced by 53%, group B by 45% and group C by 58% after 48 hours of KT application compared with that before application (p1:1.001). There was no significant difference in the mean values of overall stability index (OSI), anteroposterior stability index (APSI) and mediolateral stability index (MLSI) pre-application, immediately after and 48 hour after KT application in the same group or between the three groups (p1:1.733, 0.745 and 0.503). Conclusion: Application of kinesio taping might improve pain intensity immediately and after 48 hours of kinesio tape application, meanwhile there was no significant improvement on dynamic balance in patients with CMLBP.