The Evidence for Common Nonsurgical Modalities in Sports Medicine, Part 1: Kinesio Tape, Sports Massage Therapy, and Acupuncture.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to review the evidence on sports massage therapy's effects on sports performance, recovery, and musculoskeletal conditions.
Results Summary
The study found a lack of high-quality research on sports massage therapy, indicating a need for further investigation to better understand its effects on performance and musculoskeletal conditions.
Population
Athletes and individuals with musculoskeletal conditions.
Effective Dosage
Not Assessed
Duration
Not Assessed
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kinesio taping | decrease | acute shoulder symptoms | athletes | - | some low level evidence to suggest the use | #1 |
acupuncture | decrease | carpal tunnel syndrome | - | - | some low level evidence to suggest the use | #2 |
acupuncture | decrease | low back pain | - | - | some low level evidence to suggest the use as an adjunct treatment | #3 |
OBJECTIVE: There are a number of nonsurgical modalities used by athletes in attempts to improve performance or prevent, treat, and rehabilitate musculoskeletal injuries. A concise review of available evidence on common nonsurgical modalities used today is necessary so that practitioners may appropriately counsel patients. METHODS: A comprehensive review of relevant publications regarding Kinesio taping, sports massage therapy, and acupuncture from 2006 through 2019 was completed using PubMed and Google Scholar. RESULTS: There have been numerous investigations evaluating the efficacy of nonsurgical modalities for a myriad of musculoskeletal conditions. There is some low level evidence to suggest the use of Kinesio tape for athletes with acute shoulder symptoms and acupuncture for carpal tunnel syndrome and as an adjunct treatment for low back pain. There is a need for higher quality research to better elucidate the effect of sports massage therapy on sports performance, recovery, and musculoskeletal conditions in general. CONCLUSIONS: Nonsurgical modalities are low-cost treatment strategies with very few reported adverse outcomes that will likely continue to increase in popularity. High-quality studies are needed to effectively evaluate these treatments, so that care providers can provide appropriate guidance based on evidence-based medicine.