Kinesio-Taping vs. Usual Care for Malignant Bowel Obstruction With Ascites

NCT07023042 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 202502118RINB
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to find out whether abdominal Kinesio-taping is a feasible and effective way to relieve symptoms in patients with malignant bowel obstruction and ascites who still have severe symptoms after surgery, medication, or nasogastric tube treatment. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Can abdominal Kinesio-taping reduce the severity of symptoms, such as abdominal pain, bloating, and nausea, in these patients?
• Is abdominal Kinesio-taping a safe and practical treatment option for this patient group? Participants in this study are adults with cancer who have been diagnosed with malignant bowel obstruction and ascites, and whose symptoms have not improved after standard medical treatments. People who are allergic to tape, have abdominal wounds, are pregnant, or are unable to provide consent will not be included. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups:
• The Kinesio-taping group will receive standard care for malignant bowel obstruction plus abdominal Kinesio-taping, applied by trained professionals using a standardized procedure.
• The control group will receive standard care only. The main outcomes measured will be changes in symptom severity using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) modified for ascites, as well as abdominal girth and pain medication use. Symptoms and side effects will be closely monitored to ensure safety. The information from this study may help determine whether Kinesio-taping can be an additional, safe, and effective option for managing symptoms in patients with advanced cancer who have malignant bowel obstruction and ascites.

Conditions

Malignant Bowel Obstruction; Ascites; Advanced Cancer

Keywords

Kinesio taping; Palliative care; Adjuvant therapy; Non-pharmacological intervention; Malignant Bowel Obsruction; Advanced Cancer; dmonton Symptom Assessment System; Symptom management

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in symptom severity score using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System-Ascites Modification (ESAS:AM)

  Symptom severity will be measured using the ESAS:AM, which includes 11 items evaluating abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and other symptoms related to malignant bowel obstruction and ascites. Each item is scored on an 11-point numeric rating scale (0-10), and the average score will be used for analysis. The primary outcome is the change in average symptom severity score from baseline to Day 3 after intervention.

  Baseline and 3 days after intervention

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Change in abdominal girth

  Baseline and 3 days after intervention

• Change in analgesic medication use

  Baseline and 3 days after intervention

Study Arms (2)

Kinesio taping Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive standard care for malignant bowel obstruction and ascites, plus abdominal Kinesio-taping applied by trained professionals according to a standardized protocol.

Other: Abdominal Kinesio taping

Control Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants receive standard care for malignant bowel obstruction and ascites without Kinesio taping.

Other: Standard Care Arm

Interventions

Abdominal Kinesio taping OTHER

Application of medical-grade Kinesio tape (NKH-50R) to the abdomen using a standardized circular technique, in addition to standard care for malignant bowel obstruction and ascites. Tape is applied by trained professionals after a skin sensitivity test and changed every three days or as needed. The procedure avoids open wounds and tumor sites. Participants and caregivers are educated on tape care and removal.

Also known as: Kinesio taping, KT, Kinesiotaping, Kinesiology taping, Kinesiology tape, K-active tape

Kinesio taping Group

Standard Care Arm OTHER

Standard palliative care for malignant bowel obstruction and ascites, including symptom management, nutritional support, and medical treatment according to institutional protocols.

Control Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Adults aged 18 years or older.
• Histologically confirmed intra-abdominal or retroperitoneal malignancy.
• Diagnosis of malignant bowel obstruction with ascites located below the ligament of Treitz.
• Persistent severe symptoms (such as pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting) after surgery, medication, or nasogastric tube treatment.
• Able to communicate in Mandarin or Taiwanese.
• Capable of providing informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of significant abdominal wounds that preclude application of Kinesio tape.
• Known allergy or hypersensitivity to Kinesio tape.
• Pregnancy.
• Lack of decision-making capacity.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Taiwan University Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

National Taiwan University Hospital

Taipei, Taiwan, 100225, Taiwan

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Ascites

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Central Study Contacts

HSIEN-LIANG HUANG, MS

CONTACT

+886 22312347576; tennishuang@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: No masking is used in this study because the nature of the intervention (abdominal Kinesio-taping) does not allow for blinding of participants or care providers.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: This is a parallel assignment, randomized controlled trial with two arms: an intervention group receiving abdominal Kinesio-taping in addition to standard care, and a control group receiving standard care only. Participants are randomly assigned (1:1) to one of the two groups. No crossover or sequential treatment is planned. All outcome measures are assessed at baseline and three days after intervention.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 8, 2025
• First Posted: June 15, 2025
• Study Start: June 17, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 6, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Last Updated: June 22, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TW (1)