Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41945586›Full record

SynthesisEFORT open reviews2026

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

Huiwu Zuo, Meng Zhang, Peng Chen, Ling Wang, Luyu Diao, Li Zhang

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in EFORT open reviews, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Huiwu ZuoSchool of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4949-190X
Meng ZhangSchool of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Peng ChenSchool of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1122-8209
Ling WangSchool of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Luyu DiaoInstitute of Resource Biology and Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Li ZhangChina Institute of Sport Science, Beijing, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1050-0036

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

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.

Indexed as

acute ankle sprainskinesio tapingmeta-analysismusculoskeletal injury

Identifiers

PMID41945586
PMCPMC13087871

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.