Skip to main content
Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy
Download PDF
  • Original article
  • Open access
  • Published:

Effect of kinesio taping therapy combined with breathing exercises on childbirth duration and labor pain: a randomized controlled trial

Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy volume 21, pages 23–31 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Labor pain is a common complaint. The method used to reduce maternal discomfort should be efficacious and safe for the mother and the child. Several alternative methods have been reported to reduce childbirth pain.

Objective

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of kinesio taping combined with breathing exercises on childbirth duration and labor pain.

Participants and methods

This study was conducted on 40 normal full-term primigravida women during the first stage of labor with regular painful, palpable uterine contraction, and cervical dilatation between 3 and 5cm. They were randomly assigned into two equal groups, group A and group B. Group A (the study group) consisted of 20 women, and group B (the control group) consisted of 20 women. All participants in both groups A and B performed breathing exercises in addition to conventional medical treatment. However, group A patients received kinesio taping at the lumbar region and anterior lower abdomen during the first stage of normal labor. Assessment of all participants in both groups A and B was carried out before and after the treatment program using visual analogue scale (VAS), cardiotocography, and by measuring the duration of the first stage of labor using a stopwatch.

Results

There was a nonsignificant difference between group A and group B in pain intensity using VAS in the first stage of labor at the first reading (cervical dilatation: 3–4cm). However, there was a highly significant difference between group A and group B in the pain intensity using VAS in the first stage of labor at the second reading (cervical dilatation: 7–8cm), favoring group A. Furthermore, there was a highly significant difference between group A and group B in the duration of the first stage of labor, favoring group A.

Conclusion

These results suggest that kinesio taping combined with breathing exercise is an effective method in reducing labor pain and shortening the duration of the first stage of labor.

References

  1. ACOG. Dystocia and Augmentation of Labor. Clinical management guidelines for obstetricians, gynecologists. Washington, DC: American College of Obstetricans and Gynecologists 2003; 55–57.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Norwitz E, Robinson J, Repke J. Labor and delivery. In: Gabbe S, Niebyl J, Simpson J, eds. Obstetrics. Normal and problem pregnancies 3rd ed. New York: Churchill Livingstone; 2001;310–320.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Wayne R, Emanuel A. Labor and delivery care: a practical guide. 4th ed. New York: Wiley-Blackwell 2007; 100–117.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Choi T, Galinski E, Takeuchi L. PDPH is a common complication of neuraxial blockade in parturients: a meta-analysis of obstetrical studies. Can J Anaesth 2003; 50:460–469.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Bonica J. The nature of the pain of parturition. In: Bonica J, MacDonald J, eds. Principles and practice of obstetric & analgesia and anesthesia 2nd ed. Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1995; 243–273.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Endler C, Bhatia K. Assessment and care of the fetus: physiological, clinical and medicolegal principles. NorwalkAppleton and Lange, the University of Michigan 1990; 839.

  7. Thelen M, Dauber J, Stoneman P. The clinical efficacy of kinesio tape for shoulder pain: a randomized, double-blinded, clinical trial. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2008; 38:389–395.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Stupik A, Dwornik M, Białoszewski D, Zych E. Effect of kinesio taping on bioelectrical activity of vastus medialis muscle: preliminary report. Ortop Traumatol Rehabil 2007; 9:644–651.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Grelsamer R, McConnell J. The patella: a team approach. Gaitherburg, MD: Aspen; 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Kase K, Murray H, Husk L. Effect of kinesio taping on proprioception in the ankle. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2006; 131–37.

  11. Simoneau G, Degner R, Kramper C, Kittleson K. Changes in ankle joint proprioception resulting from strip of athletic tape applied over skin. J Athl Train 1997; 53:206–211.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Kamali Fard M, Shahnazi M, Torabi S, Gahvechy Jaeepeyma A, Azari S. The efficacy of breathing techniques in physiological response to labor pain and pain intensity. J Caring Sci Nurs Midwif 2009; 333–38.

  13. Vakilian K, Keramat A. The effect of the breathing technique with and without aromatherapy on the length of the active phase and second stage of labor. Nurs Midwif Studies 2013; 1:115–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Ullman R, Smith LA, Burns E, Mori R, Dowswell T. Parenteral opioids for maternal pain relief in labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2010; 9187–189.

  15. Stephenson RG, O’Connor JL. Obstetric and gynecologic care in physical therapy. 2nd ed. USASLACK Incorporated 2000; 224–226.

  16. Jones L, Othman M, Dowswell T, Alfirevic Z, Gates S, Newburn M et al. Pain management for women in labour: an overview of systematic reviews. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012; 3CD009234.

  17. Kamali Fard M, Shahnazi M, Torabi SS, Gahvechy Jaeepeyma A, Azari S. The efficacy of breathing techniques in physiological response to labor pain and pain intensity. Nurs Midwif J Tabriz Univ Med Sci 2009; 333–38.

  18. Kamali Fard M, Shahnazi M, Allahverdizadeh S, Toraby S, Ghahvechi A. The efficacy of massage therapy and breathing techniques on pain intensity and physiological responses to labor pain. J Caring Sci 2012; 173–78.

  19. Kase K, Wallis J, Kase T. Clinical therapeutic applications of the kinesio taping method. 2nd ed. Tokyo: Ken Ikai; 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Pijinappel H. Handbook of medical taping concept. Madrid Aneid Press; 2007.

  21. AlBahel F, Hafez AR, Zakaria AR et al. Kinesio taping for the treatment of mechanical low back pain. World Appl Sci J 2013; 22:78–84.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Lee JH, Hwang-Bo G. Effects of kinesio taping in a physical therapist with acute low back pain due to patient handling: a case report. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2011; 24:320–323.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Bijur PE, Silver W, Gallagher EJ. Reliability of the visual analog scale for measurement of acute pain. Acad Emerg Med 2001; 8:1153–1157.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Bellver J, Perales A, Maiques V, Serra V. Can antepartum computerized cardiotocography predict the evolution of intrapartum acid-base status in normal fetuses?. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2004; 83:267–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Breivik H, Borchgrevink P, Allen S, Rosseland L, Romundstad L, Breivik E et al. Assessment of pain. Br J Anaesth 2008; 101:17–24.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Bishop A. Use of kinesio taping method on lower back pain: randomized controlled clinical trial. Rome KTA International SymposiumNovember, 2010; 93–102.

  27. Kase K, Hashimoto T. Changes in the volume of peripheral blood flow by using kinesio taping. Circ Lymph 2005; 22:13776–13777.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Smith T, Bowyer D, Dixon J, Stephenson R, Chester R, Donell S. Can vastus medialis oblique be preferentially activated? A systematic review of electromyographic studies. Physiother Theory Pract 2009; 25:69–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Fredericson M, Powers C, Peter A. Practical management of back pain. Clin J Sport Med 2006; 12:36–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Fu T, Wong A, Pei Y. Effect of kinesio taping on muscle strength in athletes –a pilot study. J Sci Med Sport 2008; 1:198–201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Mehdizadeh A, Roosta F, Chaichian S, Alaghehbandan R. Evaluation of the impact of birth preparation courses on the health of the mother and the newborn. Am J Perinatol 2005; 22:7–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Tafazoli M, Yosef Zadeh S, Behnam Veshani H, Keivanlo F, Keivanlo M, Delbari F. The effect of training respiratory techniques on labor. Beihagh 2000; 624–31.

  33. Nabb M, Kimber L, Haines A, McCourt C. Does regular massage from late pregnancy to birth decrease maternal pain perception during labor and birth? A feasibility study to investigate a programme of massage, controlled breathing and visualization, from 36 weeks of pregnancy until birth. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2006; 12:222–231.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Yildirim G, Sahin N. The effect of breathing and skin stimulation techniques on labor pain perception of Turkish women. Pain Res Manag 2004; 9:183–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Therapy for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, 7 Ahmed Elzaiat St. Ben Elsaryat, 12612, El Dokki-Giza, Egypt

    Ghada E. El-Refaye PhD & Engy M. El Nahas

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

    Hassan O. Ghareeb

Authors
  1. Ghada E. El-Refaye PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Engy M. El Nahas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hassan O. Ghareeb
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ghada E. El-Refaye PhD.

Additional information

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License, which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work noncommercially, as long as the author is credited and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.

Rights and permissions

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

El-Refaye, G.E., El Nahas, E.M. & Ghareeb, H.O. Effect of kinesio taping therapy combined with breathing exercises on childbirth duration and labor pain: a randomized controlled trial. Bull Fac Phys Ther 21, 23–31 (2016). https://doi.org/10.4103/1110-6611.188026

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/1110-6611.188026

Keywords