The effect of the Kinesio Taping method on spinal motion and physiological spinal curvatures. Literature review.

BACKGROUND: The Kinesiology Taping / Kinesio Taping (KT) method has become more and more popular in recent years. Many studies have been developed to demonstrate the application of this method in numerous fields of medicine. Despite its continuous development, several issues pertaining to the legitimacy of its application and mechanisms of its operation still need to be addressed. The aim of this study is to analyse the available literature in terms of the effect of KT on the spinal motion and physiological spinal curvatures. This study is based on a method of analysing bibliographic databases such as: SPORTDiscus, Medline, ScienceDirect, EBSCOhost, and Google Scholar.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: There were found seven research articles that observe the criteria of this study's aim. Four of those research articles were devoted to the motion of the lumbar spinal segment, the other two discussed the motion of the cervical spinal segment and one of them concentrated on the lumbar lordosis. None of those research articles included any information on negative effect of this method. The effect of KT on assessed parameters is barely noticeable. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct further research in respect of the effect of the Kinesiology Taping method on the spinal motion and physiological spinal curvatures.