Primary Condition: Pain, PostoperativePhase 2/3KT-DrainNCT07098962
KinesioTaping for Thoracic Drain Support
A Phase 2/3 study testing Kinesiotaping and paracetamol tramadol in people with Primary Condition: Pain, Postoperative and Associated Conditions: Cardiac Surgical Procedures, Thoracic Surgery, run by Kastamonu University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study investigates the effectiveness of KinesioTaping applied around mediastinal and thoracic drain sites in reducing postoperative pain after cardiac surgery. Effective pain management is critical for early mobilization, improved patient satisfaction, and prevention of respiratory complications such as… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 100 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Primary Condition: Pain, Postoperative, Associated Conditions: Cardiac Surgical Procedures, Thoracic Surgery
- What is being tested?
- Kinesiotaping and paracetamol tramadol
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 100 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 15 Aug 2025to 12 Dec 2025
- Phase
- Phase 2/3
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 100 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Elective cardiac surgery cases
- Patients who are stable until the removal of the chest drain
- Patients who do not experience serious complications such as bleeding or neurological problems
Who cannot join
- Patients undergoing emergency cardiac surgery,
- Patients with early post-cardiac surgery mortality,
- Patients with conditions requiring reoperation, such as bleeding,
- Patients for whom a pain score cannot be measured, such as neurological complications
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Kastamonu Education and Research Hospital
Kastamonu, Kastamonu, 37200
About this study
Official title: Effect of KinesioTaping on Pain at Mediastinal-Thoracic Tube Sites After Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Prospective Study
This study investigates the effectiveness of KinesioTaping applied around mediastinal and thoracic drain sites in reducing postoperative pain after cardiac surgery. Effective pain management is critical for early mobilization, improved patient satisfaction, and prevention of respiratory complications such as atelectasis. KinesioTaping is theorized to support soft tissue healing, improve circulation, and modulate pain through stimulation of cutaneous mechanoreceptors and fascia adjustment. However, evidence on its efficacy in postoperative settings remains limited. This prospective, randomized controlled trial aims to provide high-quality data on the role of KinesioTaping as a non-pharmacological adjunct for pain management in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
Read the detailed description
Postoperative pain following cardiac surgery is a significant clinical concern that can hinder early mobilization, reduce patient satisfaction, prolong hospital stay, and increase the risk of respiratory complications such as atelectasis and pneumonia. While pharmacological analgesia remains the mainstay of treatment, non-pharmacological adjuncts are increasingly being explored to enhance pain control and reduce reliance on opioids.
KinesioTaping (KT), a method originally developed for musculoskeletal conditions, involves the application of elastic therapeutic tape to the skin with the aim of supporting soft tissue structures, enhancing lymphatic and blood flow, and modulating nociceptive input via stimulation of cutaneous mechanoreceptors. In the context of postoperative care, KT may also help reduce localized edema, support incision sites, and promote a sense of physical stability that contributes to pain relief.
Despite its growing popularity in rehabilitation and sports medicine, the use of KinesioTaping in postoperative settings-particularly in cardiothoracic surgery-remains under-investigated. Limited studies have suggested potential benefits in reducing pain and improving functional outcomes, but current evidence is inconclusive and often methodologically limited.
This prospective, randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of KinesioTaping when applied around mediastinal and thoracic drain sites in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The primary objective is to assess postoperative pain levels using validated pain scales (e.g., VAS) in patients receiving KT versus those receiving standard care without taping. Secondary outcomes include opioid consumption, time to ambulation, respiratory function (spirometry or incentive spirometry use), incidence of atelectasis, and patient satisfaction scores.
By providing high-quality evidence on a low-cost, non-invasive, and easily applicable intervention, this study seeks to clarify the potential role of KinesioTaping as an adjunctive tool in postoperative pain management protocols following cardiac surgery.
- Conditions
- Primary Condition: Pain, Postoperative, Associated Conditions: Cardiac Surgical Procedures, Thoracic Surgery
- Being tested
- Kinesiotaping, paracetamol tramadol
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
KinesiotapingOther
Also called Kinesiotape
In this group, KinesioTaping will be applied around the thoracic drain sites alongside standard analgesic therapy. This physical therapy technique uses elastic tapes placed on the skin to support healing, reduce pain, and improve patient comfort. The tapes will remain in place for 2-3 days and will be removed together with the drains.
paracetamol tramadolDrug
Also called paracetamol, tramadol
Patients in this group will be treated with painkillers consisting of tramadol and paracetamol
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesiotaping group | Experimental | In this group, KinesioTaping will be applied alongside routine pain management. Receives: Other: Kinesiotaping |
| Routine treatment group | Active comparator | This group will be managed with standard hospital-based painkiller administration. Receives: Drug: paracetamol tramadol |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Day 3 Visual Analogue Scale Pain Score
Visual analog scale pain score on the 3th day after cardiac surgery. Pain is defined as no pain (0) or unbearable pain (10).
0 = No pain, 1-3 = Mild pain, 4-6 = Moderate pain, 7-10 = Severe pain
Measured: 3 day
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 Aug 2025
- Study start15 Aug 2025
- Primary completion12 Dec 2025
- Study completion12 Dec 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Primary Condition: Pain, PostoperativeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2/3
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Kastamonu University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, İsmail DAL, Kastamonu University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07098962
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- KastamonuUnii
- Acronym
- KT-Drain
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 20 Jul 2025
- Last updated
- 9 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: yes
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 9 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of KinesioTaping on Pain at Mediastinal-Thoracic Tube Sites After Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Prospective Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07098962
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- KT-Drain / KastamonuUnii
- Conditions
- Primary Condition: Pain, Postoperative, Associated Conditions: Cardiac Surgical Procedures, Thoracic Surgery
- Phase
- Phase 2/3
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Kastamonu UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Aug 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 12 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 12 Dec 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 1 Aug 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study investigates the effectiveness of KinesioTaping applied around mediastinal and thoracic drain sites in reducing postoperative pain after cardiac surgery. Effective pain management is critical for early mobilization, improved patient satisfaction, and prevention of respiratory complications such as atelectasis. KinesioTaping is theorized to support soft tissue healing, improve circulation, and modulate pain through stimulation of cutaneous mechanoreceptors and fascia adjustment. However, evidence on its efficacy in postoperative settings remains limited. This prospective, randomized controlled trial aims to provide high-quality data on the role of KinesioTaping as a non-pharmacological adjunct for pain management in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
Detailed description
Postoperative pain following cardiac surgery is a significant clinical concern that can hinder early mobilization, reduce patient satisfaction, prolong hospital stay, and increase the risk of respiratory complications such as atelectasis and pneumonia. While pharmacological analgesia remains the mainstay of treatment, non-pharmacological adjuncts are increasingly being explored to enhance pain control and reduce reliance on opioids.
KinesioTaping (KT), a method originally developed for musculoskeletal conditions, involves the application of elastic therapeutic tape to the skin with the aim of supporting soft tissue structures, enhancing lymphatic and blood flow, and modulating nociceptive input via stimulation of cutaneous mechanoreceptors. In the context of postoperative care, KT may also help reduce localized edema, support incision sites, and promote a sense of physical stability that contributes to pain relief.
Despite its growing popularity in rehabilitation and sports medicine, the use of KinesioTaping in postoperative settings-particularly in cardiothoracic surgery-remains under-investigated. Limited studies have suggested potential benefits in reducing pain and improving functional outcomes, but current evidence is inconclusive and often methodologically limited.
This prospective, randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of KinesioTaping when applied around mediastinal and thoracic drain sites in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The primary objective is to assess postoperative pain levels using validated pain scales (e.g., VAS) in patients receiving KT versus those receiving standard care without taping. Secondary outcomes include opioid consumption, time to ambulation, respiratory function (spirometry or incentive spirometry use), incidence of atelectasis, and patient satisfaction scores.
By providing high-quality evidence on a low-cost, non-invasive, and easily applicable intervention, this study seeks to clarify the potential role of KinesioTaping as an adjunctive tool in postoperative pain management protocols following cardiac surgery.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesiotaping group | Experimental | Other: KinesiotapingIn this group, KinesioTaping will be applied alongside routine pain management. |
| Routine treatment group | Active comparator | Drug: paracetamol tramadolThis group will be managed with standard hospital-based painkiller administration. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 100 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Elective cardiac surgery cases
- Patients who are stable until the removal of the chest drain
- Patients who do not experience serious complications such as bleeding or neurological problems
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Patients undergoing emergency cardiac surgery,
- Patients with early post-cardiac surgery mortality,
- Patients with conditions requiring reoperation, such as bleeding,
- Patients for whom a pain score cannot be measured, such as neurological complications
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| KinesiotapingAlso: KinesiotapeIn this group, KinesioTaping will be applied around the thoracic drain sites alongside standard analgesic therapy. This physical therapy technique uses elastic tapes placed on the skin to support healing, reduce pain, and improve patient comfort. The tapes will remain in place for 2-3 days and will be removed together with the drains. | Other | Kinesiotaping group |
| paracetamol tramadolAlso: paracetamol, tramadolPatients in this group will be treated with painkillers consisting of tramadol and paracetamol | Drug | Routine treatment group |
Primary outcome
Day 3 Visual Analogue Scale Pain Score
Time frame: 3 day
Visual analog scale pain score on the 3th day after cardiac surgery. Pain is defined as no pain (0) or unbearable pain (10). 0 = No pain, 1-3 = Mild pain, 4-6 = Moderate pain, 7-10 = Severe pain
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 9 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. yes
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2/3 study testing Kinesiotaping and paracetamol tramadol in people with Primary Condition: Pain, Postoperative and Associated Conditions: Cardiac Surgical Procedures, Thoracic Surgery, run by Kastamonu University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 9 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this combined phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Day 3 Visual Analogue Scale Pain Score (time frame: 3 day). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 9 Jun 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 31 Oct 2026.