Kinesiotaping for the Treatment of Haematomas in Haemophiliacs: a Case Control Study

Abstract

Introduction. Intramuscular hemorrhages are the second most common type of bleeding in patients with haemophilia. In haemophilic patients, muscle bleeding causes pain and postural defects and requires a long healing time. Aim. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of kinesiotaping, in combination with functional rehabilitation and CO2 laser therapy, in the healing process of MH in patients with haemophilia. Methods. We recruited 39 haemophilia patients who presented with a muscle hema-toma. The patients were divided into 2 groups: treatment group treated with kinesio-taping, functional re-education and CO2 laser therapy, and a control group treated with functional re-education and CO2 laser therapy. The evolution of the hemato-ma was studied ultrasonographically and some evaluation scales (NRS, FISH) were administered. Results. The treatment group, compared to the control group, showed significant improvements in terms of: hematoma diameter (2.36 ± 3.32 vs 6.47 ± 3.37; p < 0.05), hematoma thickness (0.08 ± 0.12 vs 0.28 ± 0.14; p = 0.08), pain (NRS: 2 ± 1.57 vs 3.53 ± 1.37; p < 0.05) and number of days of replacement therapy (n days: 1.3 ± 0.48 vs 3.2 ± 0.98; p < 0.05). These results were shown to be superior in patients on prophylaxis. Conclusions. Kinesiotaping, associated with therapeutic exercise and physical therapy, can be a valuable aid in reducing the healing times of muscle hematomas in haemophil-ic patients, especially if already under prophylaxis.