The Effect of Kinesio Taping on Mobility, Pain, Balance and Daily Activities in Total Knee Replacement Patients

April 3, 2025 updated by: Ömer Berkan Özcan, Bursa City Hospital

Does Kinesiotaping Really Effective on Mobility, Pain and Daily Activities After Total Knee Arthroplasty?

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a surgical procedure performed to relieve pain and functional limitations caused by advanced gonarthrosis that cannot be managed with conservative methods. It is known that the postoperative rehabilitation program plays a crucial role in functionality and mobility in the postoperative period. Pain and swelling are the most commonly reported minor complications that lead to functional limitations, often associated with decreased muscle strength. After TKA, various current methods such as compression therapy and electrotherapy are employed to treat postoperative edema. Typically, patients are discharged with a home exercise program once they are ambulatory. However, the return to daily living activities varies among patients, and some may experience prolonged recovery times. In our country and hospital, there is no standardized algorithm for postoperative care following TKA. Patients are often referred to rehabilitation clinics only when complications arise.

Due to issues with patient ambulation, there may be a need for inpatient care following TKA. While traditional rehabilitation programs are used, alternative methods to facilitate early ambulation have emerged in recent years, one of which is kinesiology taping (KT). Developed by Kenso Kase in the 1970s, KT is an elastic, wave-textured, waterproof, breathable cotton tape applied directly to the skin. When applied with various techniques, it helps alleviate pain, reduce edema, and provides mechanical support and joint protection. KT does not restrict movement; instead, its elastic structure opens the space between the dermis and fascia, aiding lymphatic and blood flow, thereby reducing swelling in the extremities. There are studies on the use of KT in postoperative patients beyond musculoskeletal pain conditions, particularly regarding its effectiveness in managing pain, swelling, and joint range of motion after shoulder and anterior cruciate ligament surgeries.

Although recent studies in the literature have explored the use of KT after TKA, there is still no consensus on its efficacy and application methods. This study aims to investigate the potential effects or complications of KT treatment on balance, pain, mobility, and quality of life in patients undergoing rehabilitation after TKA.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

60

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients aged 50-75 who have undergone total knee arthroplasty (TKA)
  • Patients able to mobilize independently
  • Patients willing to participate in the treatment program
  • Patients without any secondary conditions that could cause immobilization

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients who have undergone surgery due to cancer
  • Renal insufficiency (GFR <30)
  • Patients with local infection in the kinesiology taping application area
  • Heart failure (Stage III-IV)
  • BMI >35
  • Cognitive impairment
  • COPD (GOLD Stage III-IV)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: The exercise group
The exercise group will receive joint range of motion exercises, strengthening exercises, and walking exercises from experienced physiotherapists while in bed.
Other: THE EXERCİSE
KT is an elastic, wave-textured, waterproof, breathable cotton tape applied directly to the skin.We are going to apply to patients in three times.
Active Comparator: The kinesiology taping (KT) group
On the 3rd day, the following taping will be applied to patients: a 15 cm I tape to support the medial collateral ligaments, a 20 cm Y tape for patellar tendon support, and a 25 cm Y tape to strengthen the quadriceps muscle. Additionally, KT will be applied to patients a total of three times on the 10th and 17th days.The KT group will be shown joint range of motion exercises, strengthening exercises, and walking exercises.
Other: THE EXERCİSE
KT is an elastic, wave-textured, waterproof, breathable cotton tape applied directly to the skin.We are going to apply to patients in three times.
Other: kinesio taping
KT is an elastic, wave-textured, waterproof, breathable cotton tape applied directly to the skin.We are going to apply to patients in three times.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Lysholm knee scale
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 3 weeks

Scale is a patient-reported outcome measure used to evaluate the functional status of the knee joint (0-100 point)

95-100 points: Excellent knee function 84-94 points: Good knee function 65-83 points: Fair knee function < 65 points: Poor knee function
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 3 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Bursa City Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

June 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

January 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

January 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 22, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 3, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

April 4, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 4, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 3, 2025

Last Verified

April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • No sponsor

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

IPD Plan Description

opon reasonable request data observed will be provided after published

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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