A randomized double-blind comparison of kinesio and athletic taping in
the treatment of lateral epicondylitis: Clinical and sonographic
outcomes
Abstract
Objective: To compare early effects of the application of kinesio and
athletic taping as part of the intensive conservative physiotherapy of
the lateral epicondylitis using the results from ultrasonography and
clinical tests. Methods: Twenty-eight volunteers aged from 27 to 55
years old who had been clinically diagnosed with the lateral
epicondylitis received in addition to the 4-week conventional
physiotherapy program, one group was treated with athletic taping
(n=14), the other with kinesio taping (n=14). The patients were
evaluated through clinical tests (visual analog scoring, isokinetic
elbow, grip and pinch strength tests, a Disability of Arm and Shoulder
questionnaire (DASH) and ultrasonography examination on the first and
last days of the physiotherapy program. Results: The two groups had
similar characteristics in all the baseline findings-and they showed
improvement in the DASH score and the regression in pain scores. The
activity pain was further reduced in the kinesio group (p = 0.006).
However, there were no significant differences in isokinetic muscle
strength at 600 /s and 1200 /s velocity speeds between kinesio and
athletic groups. There was also a substantial reduction in the tendon
thickness in the kinesio group (p = 0.063, 0.031, 0.07; respectively)
The tendon thickness was reduced by 92.3% in the kinesio-taped
patients, and only 22.2% in the athletic taped patients. The presence
of a tear in the tendon had a negative effect on the tendon thickness
reduction (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The results showed that
physiotherapy coupled with the kinesiotaping was considered to be the
better choice in the short-term treatment of the lateral epicondylitis.
Since the presence of a tear has an impact on the healing process,
ultrasonography might be an efficient method to use to discover the
existence of a tear in the tendon and informing the decision about the
appropriate type of treatment.