Kinesiology Tape Application for Postoperative Ocular Edema: A Pilot Study
Occupational therapists (OTs) often adapt and implement specific treatment techniques and modalities to improve patient outcomes by improving patient positioning and reducing edema and pain. One such modality is the use of kinesiology tape (K-tape), an elastic therapeutic tape that alleviates pain, provides joint support, and manages edema. A pilot study was conducted with 20 patients to determine whether using K-tape after two specific neurosurgery procedures that cause occluded eyes would assist in reducing postoperative edema and ecchymosis in the operative-side eye and face, thereby reducing pain and increasing overall patient satisfaction. In 10 patients, K-tape was used in addition to the postoperative standard of care (cryotherapy and head-of-bed elevation to greater than 30°). The 10 control patients received only the standard of care. Patient surveys and OT documentation found that using K-tape for postoperative patients with ocular edema was more beneficial than the standard of care alone in assisting with edema and hematoma reduction and faster eye-opening. Patients completed verbal surveys up to three times during their stay, depending on length of stay. Patients tolerated this easy, cost-effective modality. Patients reported reduced pain, pressure, and swelling, which suggests that K-tape be considered by OTs as an additional modality in acute care.
RUNNING TITLE: Kinesiology tape for ocular edema
DOI: 10.29245/2767-5122/2024/4.1145 View / Download Pdf