Date of Award

2020

Degree Type

Selective Evidence-Based Medicine Review

Degree Name

Master of Science in Health Sciences - Physician Assistant

Department

Physician Assistant Studies

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective evidence based medicine (EBM) review is to determine whether or not “Is pain intensity reduced by the application of kinesio tape in postmenopausal women with mild to moderate venous insufficiency?”

STUDY DESIGN: A systemic review compiling data from three randomized controlled trials between 2013 and 2014, all in the English language.

DATA SOURCES: Three pertinent studies evaluating the reduction of pain intensity in postmenopausal women with mild to moderate chronic venous insufficiency were included in this review. Sources were selected using PubMed and Cochrane Library.

OUTCOME(S) MEASURED: Patient perception of pain using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) of 0-10.

RESULTS: Within group comparisons demonstrated a statistically significant difference in pain amongst the group receiving kinesio tape intervention. Aguilar-Ferrandiz et al. 2014a found the increase in VAS score was 3.12 (2.61, 3.63) for the experimental group and 0.37 (0.16, 0.59) for the control group with a 95% CI, p=0.016 (Clin Rehabil. 2014a; 28(1):69-81. doi: 10.1177/0269215512469120). A Cohen’s d score of 1.73 for the experimental and 0.17 for the control group, indicates a greater reduction in pain intensity in the experimental group (Aguilar-Ferrandiz ME, Castro-Sanchez AM, Mataran-Penarrocha GA, et al. Clin Rehabil. 2014a; 28(1):69-81.doi: 10.1177/0269215512469120). The Aguilar-Ferrandiz et al. 2013 study reported an increase in VAS of 2.10 (1.90-2.50) in the experimental group and 0.32 (0.07 -0.57) in the control group with a 95% CI, p=0.003 (Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2013; 94(12):2315-2328. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2013.05.016). In Aguilar Ferrandiz 2014b the increase in VAS score of the experimental group was 2.79 (2.16, 3.41) with a 95% CI, p=0.001 (Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2014b; 95(7):1229-1239. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2014.03.024). The increase in VAS score for the control group was 0.25 (0.02, 0.48) with a CI 95%, p=0.036 (Aguilar-Ferrándiz ME, Moreno-Lorenzo C, Matarán-Peñarrocha GA, et al. Arch Phys Med Rehabil.2014b; 95(7):1229-1239. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2014.03.024). Cohen’s d score for the experimental group was 1.470 and the control was 0.115, indicating that there was a significant difference with treatment over time in the experimental group, but little change for the control group (Aguilar-Ferrándiz ME, Moreno-Lorenzo C, Matarán-Peñarrocha GA, et al. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2014b; 95(7):1229-1239. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2014.03.024).

CONCLUSIONS: The evidence presented in this review demonstrates that kinesio tape (KT) is an effective treatment option to reduce pain intensity in postmenopausal women with mild to moderate chronic venous insufficiency, however the impact of visual colors and proprioceptive cutaneous afferents from the KT may have a placebo effect.

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