Optimal days of application of kinesiotaping for the treatment of lumbo-pelvic pain during pregnancy. A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis

To determine the optimal dose and short-term effectiveness of kinesiotaping (KT) on pain intensity and disability in pregnant women with lumbo-pelvic pain.

MEDLINE (via PubMed Central), CINAHL, Epistemonikos, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception to 21st March 2023.

We included randomized controlled trials (RCT) conducted on pregnant women with lumbo-pelvic pain treated with KT.

The outcomes included pain intensity and disability. ROB-2 and GRADE were used to assess the risk of bias and the certainty of the evidence, respectively. A random effects meta-analysis was performed using the standardized mean difference (SMD) and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). The dose-response association was evaluated using a restricted cubic spline model.

Seven RCTs involving 527 patients were included. Meta-analysis revealed a statistically significant effect in favor of KT on pain intensity (SMD = −1.71; 95% CI = −2.51 to −0.90; P = <0.001) and on disability (SMD = −1.15; 95% CI = −2.29 to −0.02; P = <0.001). The total duration of KT use ranged from 5 to 35 days. It was estimated that a dose of 5–10 days exceeded the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for pain intensity (mean difference at 10 days = −2.63; 95% CI = −3.05 to −2.22). Low certainty of evidence was identified for both outcomes.

In pregnant women with lumbo-pelvic pain, the use of KT for 5 to 10 days produces a short-term reduction in pain intensity that exceeds the MCID, with a low certainty of evidence.

Systematic Review Registration Number PROSPERO CRD42023388174.