DOI: 10.4103/njcp.njcp_610_25 ISSN: 1119-3077

Effect of Kinesio Taping on Clinical Parameters in Pregnant Women with Mechanical Low Back Pain

K Akcan, MŞ Elbasti, D Bingöl, Ü Gürbüz
Show PDF Cite

Background:

During pregnancy, low back pain (LBP) is frequent and affects daily activities and sleep. Fetal safety concerns limit pharmacological options, increasing the use of non-pharmacological approaches such as exercise and kinesio taping (KT).

Aim:

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of exercise combined with KT or sham KT on clinical outcomes in pregnant women with LBP.

Methods:

This randomized controlled study included pregnant women with low back pain between 20 and 32 weeks of gestation and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score of ≥3. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (exercise with KT) or a control group (exercise with sham KT). Pain intensity, sleep quality, and functional disability were assessed using VAS, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ).

Results:

Both groups demonstrated statistically significant improvements in pain intensity (experimental: P < 0.001; control: P = 0.003), with greater reductions observed in the experimental group compared with the control group ( P = 0.044). Sleep quality improved in both groups (PSQI: P < 0.001 and P = 0.008). However, functional disability scores increased significantly in both groups (Roland–Morris: P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

Exercise combined with KT was associated with improvements in LBP and sleep quality during pregnancy, although functional disability increased over time in both groups, likely reflecting the natural progression of pregnancy. KT may be a supportive non-pharmacological option for pregnancy-related LBP.

More from our Archive