Efficacy of Kinesio-Tape in the Early Postoperative Period

Purpose:  Kinesio taping (KT) is used worldwide to prevent and treat musculoskeletal injuries. ¹ The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the application of elastic therapeutic tape (Kinesio Tape [KT]) prevents or decreases bruises, swelling, and pain after aesthetic surgery, thus improves patients’ postoperative morbidity.

Materials and Methods: To address the research purpose, the investigators designed and implemented an open-label, monocentric, parallel-group, and randomized clinical trial. KT was applied directly after surgery and maintained for 10 days postoperatively. Sham therapy was administered to the contralateral side. Patient surveys and physician ratings were obtained based on photographic evaluation of bruises, swelling, and pain. Three physicians submitted ratings, and these ratings were assessed for interobserver reliability. Additional ex vivo model to evaluate the bruise healing effect of KT in 12 Sprague-Dawley male rats was developed. After bruise induction, histological sections from tissue specimens of paravertebral full-thickness skin were stained by hematoxylin and eosin, and evaluated during the first five days after surgery.

Results: The study included 231 patients (187 females and 34 males; mean age, 39.5 yrs). Application of KT after surgery had a statistically significant influence on tissue reaction and swelling, decreasing the incidence of swelling and turgidity by more than 50% during the first 2 days after surgery. Although KT had no significant influence on pain control, patients in the KT group perceived significantly lower morbidity. In bruise-induced rat model, histological evaluation revealed that the microcirculation of injured subcutaneous tissue was accelerated from the first day after KT application.

Conclusion: The present results showed that KT after surgery is a simple, less traumatic, and effective approach for managing postoperative bruise, swelling, and pain that are free from systemic adverse reactions, thus enables early return to normal daily life.

Reference

1. Thelen, M. D., Dauber, J. A., Stoneman, P. D. The clinical efficacy of kinesio tape for shoulder pain: a randomized, double-blinded, clinical trial. The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy 2008;38:389-395.