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The Evidence for Common Nonsurgical Modalities in Sports Medicine, Part 1: Kinesio Tape, Sports Massage Therapy, and Acupuncture.

Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews
January 1, 2020
David P Trofa et al. (7 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

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

Extracted Claims (3)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
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
Abstract

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.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Acupuncture TherapyAthletic InjuriesAthletic PerformanceAthletic TapeEvidence-Based MedicineHumansMassageMusculoskeletal PainSports Medicine
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety80
Efficacy50/10
Quality70/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations9
Citations/Year1.8
Relative Citation Ratio1.41
NIH Percentile62.9%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score2.12
Normalized Score0.66
Related Supplements
The Evidence for Common Nonsurgical Modalities in Sports Med... | Panacea Index