Is Kinesio Taping Effective for Knee Osteoarthritis? Randomised, Controlled, Double-blind Study.

Objective: To determine the effects of Kinesio taping on pain, functional performance, range of motion, and postural stability in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Study Design: Randomised double-blind controlled trial.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Health Sciences, Izmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, Turkey, from November 2019 to October 2021.

Methodology: Fifty-seven patients with knee osteoarthritis (grade II or higher) according to the Kellgren-Lawrence classification received Kinesio tape or sham-Kinesio tape on the rectus femoris muscle three times a week. Patients were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS), Western ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), 50-meter walk time, range of motion (ROM), and postural stability index at baseline, 1st hour, 3rd week, 7th week. A mixed model analysis of repeated measures was used to test the effect of KT on outcome measures. Calculations were based on an intention-to-treat analysis.

Results: The only significant difference between groups was in the dynamic medio-lateral stability index [F (2.6,144.1)=3.83, p=0.015], indicating the inferiority of KT at week 3. There were differences within groups in 50-meter walking time and VAS at rest, which showed improvements over time in both groups. No significant difference was found between or within groups for other outcomes.

Conclusion: The KT intervention for three consecutive weeks showed no superiority over sham-KT in terms of pain intensity, knee-related health status, knee ROM, functional performance, and postural stability.

Key Words: Kinesio taping, Knee osteoarthritis, Pain, Gait, Functions.