The effects of short-term lumbar stability cross taping on muscle strength of trunk extension and lumbar pain level in patients with chronic back.
Sungbum Ju
PMID 29184284WHAT IT FOUND
Seven women with chronic back pain who wore a new cross-taping pattern for seven days reported less pain and showed higher trunk extension strength scores than seven who did not.
With only 14 participants and no randomisation, this is a preliminary signal, not proof the tape works.
Key findings
01The taping group showed significant improvements in lumbar extension muscle function and reductions in pain after seven days, while the control group did not.
02Pain scores dropped from a mean of 5.1 to 2.0 on a visual analogue scale in the taping group, whereas the control group's pain scores rose from 5.7 to 7.1.
03The study used a non-randomised division of 14 female participants into two groups of seven, limiting the strength of any conclusion about efficacy.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study included only 14 participants, all female, which makes the results highly susceptible to chance and limits generalisability to men or broader populations. The method of assigning participants to the taping or control group is not stated as randomised, introducing potential selection bias. There was no blinding of participants or assessors, which can inflate perceived improvements in subjective outcomes like pain. The control group received no sham taping or other intervention, making it impossible to know if the improvement was due to the tape itself or the attention and care involved in applying it. The follow-up period was only seven days, so long-term effects are unknown.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the taping caused the improvement. The study had no randomisation, no blinding, and a very small sample size. The control group's pain actually increased slightly, while the taping group's decreased, but this difference could easily be due to chance or the placebo effect of receiving an active intervention.