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

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

Randomised double-blind controlled trial.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Health Sciences, Izmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, Turkey, from November 2019 to October 2021.

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.

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.

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.

Kinesio taping, Knee osteoarthritis, Pain, Gait, Functions.