Background/Purpose: Fibromyalgia is a medical condition characterized by chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain, accompanied by fatigue, insomnia, cognitive problems, psychiatric symptoms and various somatic symptoms. While a number of pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapies are attempting to treat the patients with fibromyalgia, fibromyalgia is still difficult to manage. Taping therapy has been reported to be effect in relieving pain in a variety of musculoskeletal diseases. However, there were no reports of the patients with fibromyalgia. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of taping therapy in fibromyalgia management.

Methods: This is a randomized controlled trial, and total 60 patients with fibromyalgia were enrolled in this study. All patients were met the 2010 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia. Participants were randomized into the Kinesio taping group (n = 30) and the inelastic paper taping group (n = 30) as control. Kinesio taping therapy or inelastic paper taping was performed twice a week for three weeks in both groups. Three weeks later, Kinesio taping was applied to the control group for additional three week. To assess the effect, the widespread pain index (WPI), severity score (SS) and fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ) by ACR were used to measure pain, disease severity and dysfunctions in daily life. The Beck depression inventory (BDI) was used to assess depression, and quality of life was assessed by the EQ-5D INDEX and EQ-5D VAS by EurQol group.

Results:

There were no significant differences between the two groups in mean ages, sex ratio and type of medications including anti-depressants and muscle relaxants. The Kinesio taping group showed significant improvement in pain (WPI, 10.50 ± 3.98 vs. 5.70 ± 2.73, p < 0.001), symptom severity (SS, 7.93 ± 2.24 vs. 5.27 ± 1.98, p < 0.001), dysfunction in daily life (FIQ, 65.03 ± 18.75 vs. 43.25 ± 18.87, p < 0.001), depression (BDI, 18.17 ± 8.55 vs. 13.00 ± 6.75, p < 0.001) and QoL (EQ-5D INDEX, 9.10 ± 1.54 vs. 7.67 ± 1.40, p < 0.001; EQ-5D VAS, 38.33 ± 24.65 vs. 56.67 ± 27.93, p < 0.001), respectively. In the control group, however, the significant difference was noted only in pain (WPI, 10.53 ± 3.87 vs. 9.27 ± 3.57, p = 0.014). The changes in the Kinesio taping group before and after treatment showed significant differences compared to the control group; WPI (p < 0.001), SS (p < 0.001), FIQ (p < 0.001), BDI (p = 0.001) , EQ-5D INDEX (p < 0.001), and EQ-5D VAS (p < 0.001), respectively. After changing from inelastic paper taping to Kinesio taping, all parameters have been significant improved (WPI, p <0.001; SS, p <0.001; FIQ, p <0.001; BDI, p <0.001; EQ-5D INDEX, p <0.001; EQ-5D VAS, p <0.001, respectively). There was no serious adverse event to all participants.

Conclusion: This randomized controlled study showed that Kinesio taping therapy is effective in pain, symptom severity, dysfunctions in daily life, depression, and quality of life in patient with fibromyalgia. Taping therapy could be a useful treatment modality in the management of fibromyalgia.

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/effects-of-taping-therapy-in-the-management-of-fibromyalgia-a-randomized-controlled-study/