Effectiveness of kinesiotaping on diaphragm thickness, diaphragmatic thickening fraction, and intercostal muscle thickness in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation: a pilot study

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the effects of kinesiotaping applied on the chest wall on the diaphragmaticmuscle and intercostal muscles in patients receiving mechanical ventilation.Methods: In this prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind study, 24 patients who underwentmechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit were included the study. Randomization was used to identifythe side of patients that the kinesiotaping was applied to. Group 1: side that kinesiotaping was applied (n = 24)and Group 2 (control group): side that kinesiotaping was not applied (n = 24). Kinesiotaping was changed inevery 3 day. Thicknesses of diaphragmatic muscle, seventh intercostal muscle and ninth intercostal musclewere evaluated by using ultrasound in pretreatment, third day, sixth day and ninth day.Results: In both groups; a statistically significant decrease was found in all the evaluation parameters at allthe measurement times when compared to the pretreatment values (p 0.05).Conclusion: In conclusion, our study results showed that kinesiotaping decelerated the decrease in thediaphragmatic muscle and the intercostal muscles thickness until sixth day.