Effects of Functional Taping on Static Postural Control in Patients With Non-specific Chronic Low Back Pain

Summary

Background: Low back pain is a major public health problem that affects most people at some point in life, and results in major psychosocial, economic, functional and physical consequences that can last for days and months. Most cases are undiagnosed and become chronic non-specific low back pain. Studies showed that these patients presented changes in postural control, yet the information is inconsistent, as well as the effects of Functional Taping (FT).

Objectives: The aim of this study will be to investigate the immediate and one-month follow-up effects of the use of Functional Taping to lumbar spine on pain intensity and postural control in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain (CLBP).

Methods: This study will be a sham-controlled and randomized clinical trial. Participants: One hundred and twenty participants (18 and 50 years) both genders. Interventions: Participants will be randomly allocated to receive three possible interventions: Functional Star-shape Taping, Sham Functional Taping (both interventions during seven days) and a Minimal Intervention (MI) (one session). Main outcome measures: Primary outcomes will be pain intensity and posturography to assess balance parameters. Low back pain related disability, global perceived effect of treatment and fear avoidance beliefs will be considered as secondary outcomes. Four measurements of static posturography will be conducted: pre-intervention, immediately after application of the tape, after seven days post-intervention (after removal of the tape) and after one month follow-up period. Secondary and primary outcomes will be assessed on three occasions: pre-intervention, seven days post-intervention and after one month follow-up period. All statistical analysis will be conducted following the principles of intention to treat, and the effects of treatment will be calculated using linear mixed models.

Conditions

• Low Back Pain

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Functional Star-shape taping (SFT)

For the SFT procedure, four tapes will be applied in the form of an elastic ''I'' with the aim of facilitating muscle activation. The taping will be applied when the participant is in a seated position. The taping will be positioned covering the entire lumbar region and lower part of the thoracic region (T11, T12), and placed first at the center and then on the ends (Castro-Sanchez et al. 2012).The tension of the taping was 25%, this protocol being recommended by the Kinesio taping manual to facilitate muscle activation (Castro-Sanchez et al. 2012; Kase et al. 2003). The participant will remain for on week with FT.

PROCEDURE

Sham Functional Taping (Sham-FT)

For the Sham-FT procedure, a single bandage 20 cm in length was positioned horizontally, passing through the spinous process of the second lumbar vertebra (Castro-Sanchez et al. 2012). The tension of the taping was 25%, this protocol being recommended by the Kinesio taping manual to facilitate muscle activation (Castro-Sanchez et al. 2012; Kase et al. 2003). The participant will remain for on week with FT.

BEHAVIORAL

Minimal Intervention Strategy (MIS)

The MIS group will receive an educational and counseling booklet (The Back Book) as recommend by Dupeyron et al. (2011) containing information about the low back pain clinical features, risk factors and prognosis, fear avoidance beliefs, how to deal with an acute pain crisis, the early resumption of normal or vocational activities, even when still experiencing pain, and the importance of improvement in functional activity levels and posture, not just pain relief (Delitto et al. 2012). Participants from this group will not receive FT intervention and the investigator will encourage participants to not receive any kind of treatment during the one month epoch after the initial assessment. They will be followed by one of the investigators that will make phone calls to clarify doubts and reinforce the counseling.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Sao Paulo

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Fabrício J Jassi, PhD student · Universidade Estadual do Norte do Paraná

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

50 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2015-09-30

Primary Completion

2018-12-31

Completion

2018-12-31

Countries

• Brazil

Study Locations