Effects of kinesiotaping on foot posture in participants with pronated foot: A quasi-randomised, double-blind study

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate whether kinesiotaping improves excessive foot pronation compared with sham kinesiotaping. DesignQuasi-randomised, double-blind study. SettingOne primary care centre. ParticipantsOne hundred and thirty participants were screened for inclusion. Sixty-eight participants with pronated feet [Foot Posture Index (FPI)≥6] were enrolled, and the follow-up rate was 100%. InterventionsParticipants were allocated into one of two groups: an experimental kinesiotaping group (KT1) and a sham taping group (KT2). Measures were collected by a blinded assessor at baseline, and 1minute, 10minutes, 60minutes and 24hours after taping. Main outcome measuresThe primary outcome was total FPI score, and the secondary outcome was rear-foot FPI score. ResultsThere were no significant differences in total FPI score between kinesiotaping and sham taping at any time point. Similarly, there were no significant differences in rear-foot FPI score, apart from at 60-minute follow-up when the difference between groups was significant (P=0.04) but the effect size was very small (0.85 points on the rear-foot FPI score between −6 and +6). ConclusionsKinesiotaping does not correct foot pronation compared with sham kinesiotaping in people with pronated feet.