The effects of Kinesio taping or post-isometric muscle relaxation on pain intensity, soft tissue mechanical properties, and kinematics of the lumbar spine in non-specific low back pain patients.

Objective: To assess the effects of Kinesio Taping (KT), with or without tension, and post-isometric muscle relaxation (PIR) on pain intensity and the mechanical properties of myofascial tissues in chronic low back pain (LBP) patients. Material and methods: The participants were randomly assigned to one of the three intervention groups. To assess pain intensity at rest, the numerical rating scale (NRS) was used. To measure the mechanical proprieties of the muscles of the spine, the MyotonPRO© device was used. The examinations were undertaken before and after the intervention and also at a seven-day follow-up. Results: Pain level was reduced for all groups. In addition, post hoc analysis of the KT group showed a significant increase in the tension and stiffness of the erector and a decrease in relaxation between the pre-intervention and follow-up measurements, but only on the non-dominant side. Conclusions: KT and PIR have a similar effect in decreasing the level of resting pain among LBP patients. But unexpectedly the mechanisms of pain reduction may also be similar, as the results of objective measurements in all three groups did not differ from each other. Limitation: The Research Task Force on Research Standards for chronic LBP chose not to make specific recommendations for the timing of outcome assessments because appropriate timing would vary depending on an intervention, the goal may be short-term relief. There is no data for muscle activity interpretation, but the mechanical properties of muscles, or the properties of subcutaneous tissues and skin elasticity.