A randomized controlled trial of a mixed Kinesio taping–compression technique on venous symptoms, pain, peripheral venous flow, clinical severity and overall health status in postmenopausal women with chronic venous insufficiency

• Published in: Clinical rehabilitation Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 69 - 81
• Main Authors: Aguilar-Ferrándiz, Mª Encarnación, Castro-Sánchez, Adelaida María, Matarán-Peñarrocha, Guillermo A, Guisado-Barrilao, Rafael, García-Ríos, Mª Carmen, Moreno-Lorenzo, Carmen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01-01-2014; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Aged; Athletic Tape; Athletic taping; Chronic Disease; Chronic pain; Clinical trials; Combined Modality Therapy; Compression Bandages; Compression therapy; Double-Blind Method; Edema; Female; Health Status; Humans; Hypertension; Measurement; Middle Aged; Muscles; Pain; Pain Management - methods; Physical therapy; Postmenopause; Regional Blood Flow; Rehabilitation; Severity; Severity of Illness Index; Skin; Symptoms; Veins & arteries; Venous Insufficiency - physiopathology; Venous Insufficiency - therapy; Womens health; Spain; health status; venous insufficiency in the leg; pain; oedema; Kinesio taping
• ISSN: 0269-2155; 1477-0873
• DOI: 10.1177/0269215512469120

Objectives:
To investigate the effect of a mixed Kinesio taping treatment in women with chronic venous insufficiency.
Design:
A double-blinded randomized clinical trial.
Setting:
Clinical setting.
Participants:
One hundred and twenty postmenopausal women with mild–moderate chronic venous insufficiency were randomly assigned to an experimental group receiving standardized Kinesio taping treatment for gastrocnemius muscle enhancement and ankle functional correction, or to a placebo control group for simulated Kinesio taping.
Main outcomes variables:
Venous symptoms, pain, photoplethysmographic measurements, bioelectrical impedance, temperature, severity and overall health were recorded at baseline and after four weeks of treatment.
Results:
The 2 × 2 mixed model ANCOVA with repeated measurements showed statistically significant group * time interaction for heaviness (F = 22.99, p = 0.002), claudication (F = 8.57, p = 0.004), swelling (F = 22.58, p = 0.001), muscle cramps (F = 7.14, p = 0.008), venous refill time (right: F = 9.45, p = 0.023; left: F = 14.86, p = 0.001), venous pump function (right: F = 35.55, p = 0.004; left: F = 17.39 p = 0.001), extracellular water (right: F = 35.55, p = 0.004; left: F = 23.84, p = 0.001), severity (F = 18.47, p = 0.001), physical function (F = 9.15, p = 0.003) and body pain (F = 3.36, p = 0.043). Both groups reported significant reduction in pain.
Conclusion:
Mixed Kinesio taping-compression therapy improves symptoms, peripheral venous flow and severity and slightly increases overall health status in females with mild chronic venous insufficiency. Kinesio taping may have a placebo effect on pain.