Neurogenic Bowel DysfunctionNCT07705984
Kinesio Taping for Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction in Spinal Cord Injury
A study testing Kinesio Taping and Routine Bowel Management Program in people with Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction and Spinal Cord Injury, run by Pamukkale University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Neurogenic bowel dysfunction is a common complication of spinal cord injury and may cause constipation, difficulty with defecation, prolonged bowel care, incomplete evacuation, fecal incontinence, and reduced quality of life. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction, Spinal Cord Injury
- What is being tested?
- Kinesio Taping and Routine Bowel Management Program
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine, Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 30 Jul 2026to 30 Oct 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Adults aged 18 years or older with traumatic or nontraumatic spinal cord injury
- Neurological level of injury at T12 or above
- Upper motor neuron-type neurogenic bowel dysfunction
- Duration of spinal cord injury longer than 6 months
- Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent
Who cannot join
- Age younger than 18 years
- Neurological level of injury below T12
- Gastrointestinal disease diagnosed before the spinal cord injury, including irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease
- History of conservative treatment for neurogenic bowel dysfunction within the previous 6 months
- Colostomy or history of bowel surgery
- Neurological disease other than spinal cord injury that may cause gastrointestinal or anal sphincter dysfunction
- Cognitive impairment that may interfere with participation in the study
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Pamukkale University Hospital
Denizli, Denizli, 20160
Meltem Gunes Akıncı, MD, +902586000, meltem_aytekin@hotmail.com
About this study
Official title: Effectiveness of Kinesio Taping on Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Neurogenic bowel dysfunction is a common complication of spinal cord injury and may cause constipation, difficulty with defecation, prolonged bowel care, incomplete evacuation, fecal incontinence, and reduced quality of life. This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Kinesio Taping added to a routine bowel management program in adults with spinal cord injury and upper motor neuron-type neurogenic bowel dysfunction.
Thirty participants will be randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups. The control group will receive a routine bowel management program, while the intervention group will receive Kinesio Taping in addition to the routine bowel management program. Kinesio Taping will be applied to the lower abdominal and lumbosacral regions three times per week for 4 weeks.
The primary outcome will be defecation frequency recorded using a 7-day bowel diary. Secondary outcomes will include stool consistency, defecation duration, perceived constipation severity, neurogenic bowel dysfunction severity, and health-related quality of life. Assessments will be performed before and after the 4-week intervention.
- Conditions
- Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction, Spinal Cord Injury
- Being tested
- Kinesio Taping, Routine Bowel Management Program
- Keywords
- Kinesio Taping, Neurogenic Bowel, Constipation, Bowel Management, Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation
- Medical subject headings
- Spinal Cord Injuries, Neurogenic Bowel, Constipation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Kinesio TapingOther
Kinesio Taping will be applied to the lower abdominal and lumbosacral regions three times per week for 4 weeks. The tape will remain in place for 2 days and will be removed before the next treatment session. A star-shaped correction technique will be applied to the lumbosacral region with 25%-50% tension. An I-shaped correction technique will be applied to the lower abdominal region between the right and left anterior superior iliac spines. No tension will be applied to the ends of the tape.
Routine Bowel Management ProgramBehavioural
Participants will receive an individualized routine bowel management program based on their clinical condition for 4 weeks. The program may include scheduled bowel care, dietary and fluid recommendations, appropriate positioning, physical activity, abdominal massage, rectal evacuation techniques, suppositories, enemas, and oral or rectal laxatives when clinically indicated. Participants will be instructed not to change their usual dietary habits during the study period.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Routine Bowel Management Program | Active comparator | Participants in this arm will receive an individualized routine bowel management program based on their clinical condition for 4 weeks. The program may include scheduled bowel care, dietary and fluid recommendations, appropriate positioning, physical activity, abdominal massage, rectal evacuation techniques, suppositories, enemas, and oral or rectal laxatives when clinically indicated. Participants will be instructed not to change their usual dietary habits during the study period. Receives: Behavioral: Routine Bowel Management Program |
| Kinesio Taping Plus Routine Bowel Management Program | Experimental | Participants in this arm will receive Kinesio Taping in addition to the routine bowel management program for 4 weeks. Kinesio Taping will be applied to the lower abdominal and lumbosacral regions three times per week by the same experienced physician. The tape will remain in place for 2 days and will be removed before the next treatment session. A star-shaped correction technique will be applied to the lumbosacral region with 25%-50% tension, and an I-shaped correction technique will be applied to the lower abdominal region between the right and left anterior superior iliac spines. No tension will be applied to the ends of the tape Receives: Other: Kinesio Taping; Behavioral: Routine Bowel Management Program |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Defecation Frequency
Defecation frequency will be recorded using a 7-day bowel diary and expressed as the total number of defecations during a 7-day period. Higher values indicate more frequent bowel movements.
Measured: Baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention
Secondary outcomes (8)
Change in Bristol Stool Form Scale Score
Stool consistency will be assessed using the 7-point Bristol Stool Form Scale. Type 1 indicates separate hard lumps, while Type 7 indicates entirely liquid stool. Types 3 to 5 generally represent softer or more desirable stool consistency.
Measured: Baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention
Change in Perceived Constipation Severity
Participants will rate the overall severity of constipation on a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale ranging from 0 to 10. A score of 0 indicates no constipation, while a score of 10 indicates very severe constipation.
Measured: Baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention
Change in Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction Score
Neurogenic bowel dysfunction severity will be assessed using the 10-item Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction Score. The total score ranges from 0 to 47, with higher scores indicating more severe neurogenic bowel dysfunction.
Measured: Baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention
Change in Short Form-36 Health Survey Scores
Health-related quality of life will be assessed using the 36-item Short Form Health Survey. The instrument includes eight subscales, each scored from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate better perceived health status.
Measured: Baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention
Change in Defecation Duration
Defecation duration will be recorded in minutes using a 7-day bowel diary. Participants will record the time required to complete each bowel evacuation. A shorter duration indicates less time spent on bowel care.
Measured: Baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention
Change in the Feeling of Complete Evacuation
The feeling of complete bowel evacuation will be recorded in the 7-day bowel diary after each defecation. The outcome will be expressed as the number or proportion of defecations associated with a feeling of complete evacuation during the 7-day assessment period. Higher values indicate more frequent complete evacuation.
Measured: Baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention
Change in Straining During Defecation
Straining during defecation will be recorded in the 7-day bowel diary. The outcome will be expressed as the number or proportion of defecations accompanied by straining during the 7-day assessment period. Lower values indicate less frequent straining.
Measured: Baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention
Change in Painful Defecation
Painful defecation will be recorded in the 7-day bowel diary. The outcome will be expressed as the number or proportion of defecations associated with pain during the 7-day assessment period. Lower values indicate less frequent painful defecation.
Measured: Baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Jul 2026
- Study start30 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion30 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Oct 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Neurogenic Bowel DysfunctionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Pamukkale UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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 N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Pamukkale University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Meltem Gunes Akinci, Pamukkale University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07705984
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- E-60116787-020-887485
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 10 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 15 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Dandinoglu T, Kaya E. Kinesio Taping in spinal cord injury rehabilitation: A scoping review. J Spinal Cord Med. 2026 Feb 12:1-9. doi: 10.1080/10790268.2026.2626116. Online ahead of print.
PubMed 41677377Karaaslan Y, Karakus A, Koc DO, Bayrakli A, Celenay ST. Effectiveness of Abdominal Massage Versus Kinesio Taping in Women With Chronic Constipation: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2024 Oct 30;30(4):501-511. doi: 10.5056/jnm23131. Epub 2024 Jun 3.
PubMed 38826075Orhan C, Kaya Kara O, Kaya S, Akbayrak T, Kerem Gunel M, Baltaci G. The effects of connective tissue manipulation and Kinesio Taping on chronic constipation in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial. Disabil Rehabil. 2018 Jan;40(1):10-20. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2016.1236412. Epub 2016 Oct 28.
PubMed 27793072
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 15 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effectiveness of Kinesio Taping on Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07705984
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- E-60116787-020-887485
- Conditions
- Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction, Spinal Cord Injury
- Keywords
- Kinesio Taping, Neurogenic Bowel, Constipation, Bowel Management, Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Pamukkale UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 30 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 30 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 15 Jul 2026 (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.
Neurogenic bowel dysfunction is a common complication of spinal cord injury and may cause constipation, difficulty with defecation, prolonged bowel care, incomplete evacuation, fecal incontinence, and reduced quality of life. This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Kinesio Taping added to a routine bowel management program in adults with spinal cord injury and upper motor neuron-type neurogenic bowel dysfunction.
Thirty participants will be randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups. The control group will receive a routine bowel management program, while the intervention group will receive Kinesio Taping in addition to the routine bowel management program. Kinesio Taping will be applied to the lower abdominal and lumbosacral regions three times per week for 4 weeks.
The primary outcome will be defecation frequency recorded using a 7-day bowel diary. Secondary outcomes will include stool consistency, defecation duration, perceived constipation severity, neurogenic bowel dysfunction severity, and health-related quality of life. Assessments will be performed before and after the 4-week intervention.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Routine Bowel Management Program | Active comparator | Behavioral: Routine Bowel Management ProgramParticipants in this arm will receive an individualized routine bowel management program based on their clinical condition for 4 weeks. The program may include scheduled bowel care, dietary and fluid recommendations, appropriate positioning, physical activity, abdominal massage, rectal evacuation techniques, suppositories, enemas, and oral or rectal laxatives when clinically indicated. Participants will be instructed not to change their usual dietary habits during the study period. |
| Kinesio Taping Plus Routine Bowel Management Program | Experimental | Other: Kinesio Taping, Behavioral: Routine Bowel Management ProgramParticipants in this arm will receive Kinesio Taping in addition to the routine bowel management program for 4 weeks. Kinesio Taping will be applied to the lower abdominal and lumbosacral regions three times per week by the same experienced physician. The tape will remain in place for 2 days and will be removed before the next treatment session. A star-shaped correction technique will be applied to the lumbosacral region with 25%-50% tension, and an I-shaped correction technique will be applied to the lower abdominal region between the right and left anterior superior iliac spines. No tension will be applied to the ends of the tape |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Adults aged 18 years or older with traumatic or nontraumatic spinal cord injury
- Neurological level of injury at T12 or above
- Upper motor neuron-type neurogenic bowel dysfunction
- Duration of spinal cord injury longer than 6 months
- Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Age younger than 18 years
- Neurological level of injury below T12
- Gastrointestinal disease diagnosed before the spinal cord injury, including irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease
- History of conservative treatment for neurogenic bowel dysfunction within the previous 6 months
- Colostomy or history of bowel surgery
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesio TapingKinesio Taping will be applied to the lower abdominal and lumbosacral regions three times per week for 4 weeks. The tape will remain in place for 2 days and will be removed before the next treatment session. A star-shaped correction technique will be applied to the lumbosacral region with 25%-50% tension. An I-shaped correction technique will be applied to the lower abdominal region between the right and left anterior superior iliac spines. No tension will be applied to the ends of the tape. | Other | Kinesio Taping Plus Routine Bowel Management Program |
| Routine Bowel Management ProgramParticipants will receive an individualized routine bowel management program based on their clinical condition for 4 weeks. The program may include scheduled bowel care, dietary and fluid recommendations, appropriate positioning, physical activity, abdominal massage, rectal evacuation techniques, suppositories, enemas, and oral or rectal laxatives when clinically indicated. Participants will be instructed not to change their usual dietary habits during the study period. | Behavioural | Kinesio Taping Plus Routine Bowel Management Program, Routine Bowel Management Program |
Primary outcome
Change in Defecation Frequency
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention
Defecation frequency will be recorded using a 7-day bowel diary and expressed as the total number of defecations during a 7-day period. Higher values indicate more frequent bowel movements.
8 secondary outcomes
Change in Bristol Stool Form Scale Score
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention
Change in Perceived Constipation Severity
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention
Change in Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction Score
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention
Change in Short Form-36 Health Survey Scores
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention
Change in Defecation Duration
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention
Change in the Feeling of Complete Evacuation
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention
Change in Straining During Defecation
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention
Change in Painful Defecation
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 15 Jul 2026.
- Results publication: PubMed 41677377Dandinoglu T, Kaya E. Kinesio Taping in spinal cord injury rehabilitation: A scoping review. J Spinal Cord Med. 2026 Feb 12:1-9. doi: 10.1080/10790268.2026.2626116. Online ahead of print.
- Results publication: PubMed 38826075Karaaslan Y, Karakus A, Koc DO, Bayrakli A, Celenay ST. Effectiveness of Abdominal Massage Versus Kinesio Taping in Women With Chronic Constipation: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2024 Oct 30;30(4):501-511. doi: 10.5056/jnm23131. Epub 2024 Jun 3.
- Results publication: PubMed 27793072Orhan C, Kaya Kara O, Kaya S, Akbayrak T, Kerem Gunel M, Baltaci G. The effects of connective tissue manipulation and Kinesio Taping on chronic constipation in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial. Disabil Rehabil. 2018 Jan;40(1):10-20. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2016.1236412. Epub 2016 Oct 28.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Kinesio Taping and Routine Bowel Management Program in people with Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction and Spinal Cord Injury, run by Pamukkale 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 5 inclusion and 7 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Jul 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.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Meltem Gunes Akıncı, MD (+902582966000, meltem_aytekin@hotmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Defecation Frequency (time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07705984, which also lists 3 linked publications.
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 15 Jul 2026.