The effects of short-term lumbar stability cross taping on muscle strength of trunk extension and lumbar pain level in patients with chronic back.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of short-term lumbar stability cross taping program on muscle strength of trunk extension and lumbar pain level in patients with chronic back pain. [Subjects and Methods] The present study divided 14 patients with chronic back pain into the stability cross taping group (SCTG; n=7) and the control group (CONG; n=7). Lumbar cross taping was applied to SCTG for 7 days, but the taping was not applied to CONG. After 7 days of the lumbar stability cross taping application to SCTG, lumbar muscle function and lumbar pain levels were measured using a Medx lumbar extension machine (Medx, USA) and a visual analogue scale (VAS) for the subjects in both SCTG and CONG. [Results] For SCTG, all the elements in lumbar muscle function and were significantly improved and lumbar pain level was also significantly reduced after the application of the 7-day lumbar stability cross taping. However, CONG did not show any statistically significant changes. [Conclusion] The results of the present study showed that the lumbar stability cross taping is an effective rehabilitation to improve lumbar muscle function and reduce lumbar pain level in patients with chronic back pain.