Is Kinesio taping acutely effective for peripheral tissue perfusion in women with mild to moderate chronic venous insufficiency? A randomized controlled trial

• Published in: Journal of bodywork and movement therapies 2024-10, Vol.40, p.243-248
• Main Authors: Carvalho, Maria Luiza Vieira, Caceres, Viviane De Menezes, Nascimento, Isabella de Oliveira, Costa, Henrique Silveira, Figueiredo, Pedro Henrique Scheidt, Lima, Vanessa Pereira, Monteiro, Debora Pantuso, Pereira, Danielle Aparecida Gomes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Athletic Tape; Chronic Disease; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Oxygen - metabolism; Plethysmography - methods; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared - methods; Venous Insufficiency - therapy
• ISSN: 1360-8592; 1532-9283; 1532-9283
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2024.04.017

Objective To evaluate the acute effect of Kinesio Taping® (KT) on peripheral tissue perfusion in women with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Methods: This randomized, double-blind controlled trial included 59 women with mild to moderate CVI. They were randomized to a control group (n = 23; 54.08 ± 9.04 years) and KT group (n = 36; 55.87 ± 9.97 years). Near-infrared spectroscopy was positioned in the medial gastrocnemius muscle for assessment of resting tissue perfusion 48 h after the first day of evaluation and after placement of the Kinesio Taping® tape. The evaluation also consisted of performing movements of the plethysmography examination. To verify the comparisons of pre- and post-Kinesio Taping® data, the variation delta was used for analysis. Mann–Whitney U test was performed an an alpha of 5% was considered statistically significant. Results: There wasn't a significant difference between groups regarding the peripheral tissue perfusion evaluation variables Peripheral Oxygen Saturation Difference – DELTA_SPO2: (KT Group 3.21 (0.84–3.62); Control 2.21 (1.59–4.83), p = 0.219) and Difference in deoxygenate hemoglobin values – DELTA_HHB (units) KT Group -0.62 (-2.14–0.67); Control Group -0.07 (-2.15–2.62) p = 0.238). Despite the lack of statistical significance, the KT group had a 785.7% greater drop in HHB values than the control group. Conclusions: Acute use of Kinesio Taping® in women with CVI did not significantly alter tissue perfusion of calf muscles. However, it was possible to observe percentage differences in venous retention to be considered from a clinical point of view •Using Kinesio Taping® in women with chronic venous insufficiency is not feasible to promote acute changes in tissue perfusion.•This study is a double-blind randomized clinical trial demonstrating that short-term use of Kinesio Taping® is not capable of modifying tissue perfusion in women with chronic venous insufficiency.