The Additional Effect of Different Taping Applications in Patients With Lumbar Radiculopathy

Kinesio tape was developed by Kenzo Kase in the 1970s. It is an elastic tape, and its adhesive face is sinusoidal wavy. This feature has been shown to increase daily living activities and functions, as it supports the tissue while also allowing movement \[12\]. Kinesio tape lifts the skin and subcutaneous soft tissues of the fascia, which are painful and inflamed regions upon contractions seen in the tissue after tense adhesion to the skin. Therefore, it has been reported to reduce oedema and inflammation by creating more space and providing blood and lymphatic fluid flow.

The tape material used in rigid (athletic) tape application is hard. It is used to position and unite the soft tissue, to protect the tissue from impact and to prevent local swelling.There are studies in the literature supporting the sensorimotor and proprioceptive sensation-enhancing effect of the athletic band, which provides a very good sensory input through the skin.

Placebo taping was applied to the patients in this group, using betafix, an elastic fixation band, as the material. The patient was told that taping would be applied. A straight line betafix was applied to the non-painful scapular inferior level of the spine on the right and left sides of the standing patient.