The impact of kinesiotaping on functional respiratory outcome in chest injuries-a pilot randomized trial.

In 30 seconds

This pilot randomized trial compared kinesiotaping (KT) plus breathing exercises with breathing exercises alone in 34 patients with isolated unilateral injuries involving fewer than five ribs. Spirometry and pain measures were assessed at enrolment and the following day; functional status was assessed 10 days after enrolment. The study found no between-group improvement in respiratory parameters and no effect of KT on pain measured by visual analogue scale or algometry. The authors noted possible variation in response, but the trial did not establish a benefit of KT.

Key findings

• Respiratory parameters did not improve between the KT-plus-exercises and exercises-only groups.
• KT had no observed effect on pain measured by visual analogue scale or algometry.
• Variance analysis suggested that patients might differ in their response to KT, but did not establish a responder subgroup.

Why it matters

Rib injuries can impair breathing and cause pain, making adjunctive approaches clinically relevant to evaluate. In this pilot trial, adding KT to breathing exercises did not improve the measured respiratory or pain outcomes. The findings therefore provide no evidence of benefit for these outcomes in the studied population, while the suggested variation in response remains exploratory.

What to keep in mind

This was a pilot trial involving 34 patients with isolated unilateral injuries of fewer than five ribs; outcomes were assessed over a short period.