Does current evidence support the use of kinesiology taping in people with knee osteoarthritis?

Effects of Combination Taping Technique on Disability, Functional Capacity, and Knee Isokinetic Torque in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Blinded Randomized Controlled Study

BACKGROUND

Treatments that combine both elastic and rigid taping in knee osteoarthritis have not yet been investigated in the literature. Thus, the purpose of the present study is to investigate how the combination taping technique affects functional status, disability, and quadricep isokinetic torque in cases of knee osteoarthritis. Patient Methods: A total of fifty-four patients were assigned to the experimental group or control group. Conventional physical therapy was provided to both groups, in addition, participants in the experimental group also received combination taping. Disability, functional status, and isokinetic quadriceps torque were assessed at baseline, six weeks (post-intervention), and twelve weeks (follow-up).

RESULTS

MANOVA showed that post-intervention measurements were significantly better than baseline measurements of both groups, except for isokinetic quadriceps torque, which showed a nonsignificant difference in the control group. The control group's follow-up measurements revealed nonsignificant differences from those taken after the intervention, whereas the experimental group's differences were significant excluding isokinetic quadriceps torque. Measurements taken at post-intervention and follow-up revealed that the experimental group had significantly improved compared to the control groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Combination taping was found to be more beneficial when used in addition to conventional physical therapy than when used alone in knee OA.

Efficacy of Kinesiotaping on Functional Outcomes, Pain, and Edema in the Early Rehabilitation After Total Knee Arthroplasty Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background/Objectives: The aim of our study was to verify whether the application of Kinesiotaping in addition to the usual treatment was superior to the usual treatment alone regarding functional outcome, pain, and edema in the first 13 days after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgery. Methods: The study sample (n = 71) comprised 42.3% men and the mean age was 68.1 (±9) years. A 1:1 ratio randomization list was used to allocate the patient either to a Kinesiotaping Group (KT) or to a control (CON) group. The KT and CON groups received the same volume of standard post-TKA rehabilitation. KT was additionally treated with lymphatic correction applications of Kinesiotaping (Kinesio® Tex Classic, Mogliano Veneto, Italy) on day 3 (±1) and 7 (±1) post-surgery (two applications during the rehabilitation period). Each application lasted four to five days before removal. KT was removed before the patients' discharge. The main outcome measures were as follows: (1) the circumference at knee level; (2) the VAS for pain; (3) the 10 m Walking Test; (4) the Timed Up and Go Test; (5) the passive knee range of motion; (6) body composition; (7) the Functional Independence Measure; and (8) the Modified Barthel Index. Data were collected at T0 (before surgery), T1 (3 ± 1 days after surgery), T2 (7 ± 1 days after surgery), and T3 (13 ± 1 days after surgery). Results: No inter-group differences were found between KT and CON at T0, T1, T2, and T3. An effect of time was observed for all outcome measures. Conclusions: No superiority of Kinesiotaping was observed compared to the usual rehabilitation treatment.

Effect of dynamic taping on neck pain, disability, and quality of life in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain: a randomized sham-control trial

Background

In 2020, 203 million people experienced neck pain, with a higher prevalence in women. By 2050, it is predicted that neck pain will affect 269 million people, representing a 32.5% increase. Physical rehabilitation is often employed for the treatment of chronic non-specific neck pain (CNSNP) and the associated functional loss. Taping is frequently used as an adjunct treatment alongside primary physical rehabilitation. Unlike kinesio tape (KT), the therapeutic benefits of dynamic tape (DT) have not been thoroughly explored and documented in non-athletic conditions. Therefore, the aim of this trial was to determine the effects of DT on pain, disability, and overall well-being in individuals experiencing CNSNP.

Methods

A prospective parallel-group active controlled trial was conducted at a single center, involving 136 patients with CNSNP, randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio. The sham taping group (STC) received standard physiotherapy care (n = 67) alongside DT without tension, while the dynamic taping group (DTC) (n = 69) underwent standard cervical offloading technique with appropriate tension in addition to standard physiotherapy care. Demographic information and three patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), namely the Neck Disability Index (NDI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and the World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), were collected for each participant at three time points (baseline, four weeks post-taping, and four weeks follow-up).

Results

At baseline, no significant differences were observed between the STC and DTC for any outcome measure. Notably, all three PROMs exhibited a significant improvement from baseline to four weeks post-intervention, with moderate to small effect sizes (NDI ηp2 = 0.21, VAS ηp2 = 0.23, and WHO-55 ηp2 = 0.05). The WHO-5 scores for both groups demonstrated improvement from baseline through follow-up (p < 0.001). The NDI and VAS scores ameliorated from baseline to the four weeks post-taping period, with marginal improvements observed during the four weeks follow-up.

Conclusion

The incorporation of DT as an adjunct to standard physiotherapy care yielded enhancements in pain levels, functional disability, and well-being among patients with CNSNP when compared to the sham group. However, the sustainability of these improvements beyond the taping period lacks statistical significance and warrants further validation.

Evaluation of Kinesio Taping for Edema, Ecchymosis, and Pain After Liposuction: A Prospective Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

Liposuction is a safe, simple, and effective method of body contouring. Pain, ecchymosis, and edema are often local complications at the removal site, especially in the first weeks after surgery. Several studies have shown that kinesiology (kinesio) taping improves blood and lymphatic flow, removing congestions of lymphatic fluid and alleviating hemorrhage. However, there are limited data on the effect of kinesio taping in mitigating local complications at fat grafting donor sites.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the impact of kinesio taping in reducing postoperative edema, pain, and ecchymosis in the liposuction area.

METHODS

Over a period of 18 months (January 2021-June 2022), 52 patients underwent liposuction of both flanks with subsequent breast fat grafting. Immediately after the surgery, kinesio taping was used on the right abdomen flank in all patients. Degree of edema as well as ecchymosis and pain were quantified at 7, 14, and 21 days after surgery.

RESULTS

There were statistically significant differences in the taping area for ecchymosis at 7 days after surgery, edema at 14 and 21 days after surgery, and in pain, rated on a visual analog scale, at 7, 14 and 21 days after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Kinesio taping, as used in this study, is beneficial in the reduction of edema and pain and the resolution of ecchymosis after liposuction.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3