Is Kinesio taping an effective approach for acute ankle sprains? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose: To examine the effect of Kinesio taping (KT) on patients with acute ankle sprains (AAS). Methods: We searched MEDLINE (via PubMed), Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, and Google Scholar for all relevant publications from database inception to January 2025, without language restriction. Randomized controlled trials on KT for AAS were selected according to the participant, intervention, comparison, and outcome measures. A meta-analysis was conducted using R software. Heterogeneity investigation involved sensitivity, subgroup, and meta-regression analysis. Two independent reviewers assessed the quality of the literature using the Cochrane risk of bias tool 2, and the GRADE framework was applied to grade the certainty of the evidence. Results: Eight trials containing 582 participants were selected in this review. Moderate-certainty evidence indicated that KT was more effective than controls in relieving pain (standard mean difference (SMD) = -0.63; 95% CI: -1.25 to -0.01; I2 = 94.1%, P = 0.047) and improving function (SMD = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.10-1.34; I2 = 94.5%, P = 0.023). Low-certainty evidence was found for its effect on reducing swelling (SMD = -0.29; 95% CI: -0.48 to -0.10; I2 = 77.5%, P = 0.002). Subgroup analysis revealed that KT significantly improved pain, swelling, and function following 3-5 days of intervention. 'I'-shaped KT was found to significantly improve pain, swelling, and function. Conclusion: KT can significantly alleviate pain, reduce swelling, and improve function in patients with AAS. However, significant effects are only observed short-term, and the 'I'-shaped KT method may be the most effective recommendation for AAS.