The effectiveness of Kinesio Taping® for pain management in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial

Venta Donec, Raimondas Kubilius, Venta Donec, Raimondas Kubilius

Abstract

Background: Kinesio Taping® method is a nonpharmacological alternative for pain management in musculoskeletal disorders. However, the existing evidence is insufficient to assess its full effectiveness for pain management in knee osteoarthritis (KO). Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Kinesio Taping method in reducing knee pain for KO patients.

Methods: In this randomized, double blind, controlled trial, we recruited 187 patients with grade I-III KO who were allocated to either the Kinesio Taping or control group. The study was carried out in outpatient facility. Either Kinesio Taping or nonspecific taping was applied on the affected knee area for 4 weeks. Pain evaluation was performed at baseline, after 1 month of taping and after 1 further month without taping. The data on usage of painkillers were collected; Numeric Pain Rating Scale; an algometer, and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores (KOOS) pain subscale were used to assess pain. Tolerance and subjective opinions toward the effectiveness of taping were evaluated. The chosen level of significance was p < 0.05, ß ⩽ 0.2.

Results: The majority (>70%) of both groups' patients indicated that tapes reduced the knee pain. The reported use of painkillers decreased, in addition to self-reported increase in the KOOS subscale, thereby indicating pain alleviation. All self-reported improvement remained at the 1-month follow up (p < 0.05). Significantly higher and clinically meaningful reduction of pain intensity was found in the Kinesio Taping group after the treatment month, in comparison with the control group (p < 0.05). More pain reduction was reported in the daytime for participants in the Kinesio Taping group at the follow up (p = 0.022). No changes in algometry results were observed.

Conclusions: Elastic taping can safely relieve knee pain and reduce the need for pharmacological management in KO. A specific Kinesio Taping technique is clinically more beneficial for knee-pain alleviation in comparison with nonspecific taping.[ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03076177.].

Keywords: Kinesio Taping; elastic taping; knee osteoarthritis; knee pain.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The Kinesio Taping application. The completed KT application view. Two Y-shaped strips (approximately 10–15% tension) were applied over the anterior knee joint surface and thigh muscles, and two I-shaped strips (approximately 75–100% tension) over the patellar tendon and medial/lateral collateral ligaments.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
The nonspecific taping application. Two I strips above and below the knee joint and two strips (approximately 5 × 5 cm) over the medial and lateral knee surface applied with 0% tension.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Study flow chart.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
The changes in the knee pain according to the NPRS. The changes in the knee pain according to the NPRS (a) during the treatment month and (b) during the follow-up month. *The difference between groups is statistically significant (p < 0.05). **The difference between groups is both statistically significant (p < 0.05) and clinically meaningful, that is, ⩾1.7 points. NPRS, Numeric Pain Rating Scale (an 11-point scale from 0–10. ‘0’ = no pain, ‘10’ = the most intense pain imaginable).
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
The changes in usage of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) within groups. (a) Changes in NSAID usage for those participants who used them for knee-pain relief prior to participation in the study; (b) changes in analgesic medication usage for those participants who were nonusers of drugs for their knee-pain relief prior to participation in the study. KT, Kinesio Taping; NT, nonspecific taping; V1, assessment after taping month; V2, follow-up assessment.

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Source: PubMed

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