Depending on the duration of the symptoms, low back pain is called acute if it lasts less than 1 month, subacute if it lasts for 1–3 months, and chronic if it lasts more than 3 months. 1 With another definition, muscle tension in the region between the lower costal border and the upper inferior gluteal folds can be called. Although low back pain has become an important problem worldwide, 60–80% of the world's population is faced with low back pain at some point in their lives. It has also been reported that approximately 23% of this low back pain is chronic low back pain. 2,3 It is seen that 80% of patients with acute low back pain recover within 6 weeks, while 7–10% of them last longer than 3 months and become chronic, causing great labor and economic damage. 3
Chronic low back pain is a condition that limits the daily life activities and movements of the person, affects walking, dressing and social life, in short, reduces the quality of life. Anxiety has been reported to accompany chronic pain. Studies have also found a highly significant relationship between chronic pain and sleep quality. 4
There is no standardized treatment approach for the treatment of chronic low back pain. 3 There are many options ranging from conservative treatment to surgery. Physiotherapy agents, exercise programs, kinesiology taping, medical therapy, dry needle, yoga, pilates and surgical treatments are the most frequently used treatment methods. 6
Kinesiology taping technique was developed in 1973 by Dr. Developed by Kenzo Kase. The emergence philosophy of the method is that it is a taping method that does not prevent joint movements and resembles the structural features of human skin. 7 Kinesiology taping, which has not only a therapeutic role but also a preventive role in athletes, is supported by positive results in many studies that it increases functionality and helps reduce pain.8 Kase et al. They mentioned some positive effects depending on the degree of tension applied to the band. These effects; To send signals to the central nervous system by stimulating mechanoreceptors through the skin, to create a positional warning by creating folds in the area where the tape is applied, to create more space by removing the fascia and skin and subcutaneous soft tissues on the painful or inflamed area with these folds, and by reducing the pressure in the area is to create a sensory stimulus to limit or increase movement. With the decreased pressure and increased blood circulation, the stimulation of pain receptors in the painful area is prevented. Thus, it is possible to move without pain. 5
Sleep is one of the basic physiological needs of humans, which ensures the continuity of human health. 8,9 Sleep is also accepted as an important variable of health, affecting an individual's quality of life and well-being. 10,11
Sleep quality is also a concept that is emphasized in clinical research and applications today. The reason for this is that sleep-related complaints are increasing day by day and poor sleep quality may be a symptom of many medical diseases. 12 In addition to productivity and efficiency, functions such as memory and concentration are also positively affected by sleep quality. 13,9
In the literature, the effect of kinesiology taping, which is used in the treatment of chronic or acute low back pain, on pain, physical competence and well-being has been questioned. 14,15 Although it is known that sleep quality also affects chronic low back pain, there is no study in the literature investigating the effects of chronic low back pain and kinesiology taping on sleep quality parameters. 4
The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of conventional physical therapy and kinesiology taping in addition to conventional treatment on pain, flexibility, balance, anxiety, disability, kinesiophobia, sleep quality and quality of life in patients with chronic low back pain.
Our hypotheses are as follows:
Hypothesis 1
The sleep quality of the participants in the kinesiology taping group will differ according to the group that received only conventional physical therapy.
Hypothesis 2
Pain, disability and quality of life will be different in the participants in the kinesiology taping group compared to the group that only received conventional physical therapy.
Hypothesis 3
Anxiety and fear of movement will be different in the participants in the kinesiology taping group compared to the group that only received conventional physical therapy.