Effects of Elastic Therapeutic Taping on Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Elastic therapeutic taping (ET) has been widely used for a series of musculoskeletal diseases in recent years. However, there remains clinical uncertainty over its efficiency for knee osteoarthritis (knee OA) management. To assess the effects of ET on patients with knee OA, we investigated outcomes including self-reported pain, knee flexibility, knee-related health status, adverse events, muscle strength, and proprioceptive sensibility. Ten databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science, PEDro, Research Gate, CNKI, CBM, and Wanfang were systematically searched. Eleven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 168 participants with knee OA provided data for the meta-analysis. Statistical significance was reported in four from five outcomes, such as self-related pain (during activity, MD -0.85, 95% CI, -1.55 to -0.14; P =0.02), knee flexibility (MD 7.59, 95% CI, 0.61 to 14.57; P =0.03), knee-related health status (WOMAC scale, MD -4.10, 95% CI, -7.75 to -0.45; P =0.03), and proprioceptive sensibility (MD -4.69, 95% CI, -7.75 to -1.63; P =0.003), while no significant enhancement was reported regarding knee muscle strength (MD 1.25, 95% CI, -0.03 to 2.53; P =0.06). Adverse events were not reported in any of the included trials. The overall quality of evidence was from moderate to very low. In conclusion, there is underpowered evidence to suggest that ET is effective in the treatment of knee OA. Large, well-designed RCTs with better designs are needed.

Effectiveness of Kinesio Taping in the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis

“…It is suggested that it has an effect of localized improvement of blood and lymph flow, decreasing pain, providing anatomical support, enhancing muscle activity and range of motion of joint, and assisting proprioception [10]. However, the standardized skills of application and elastic tension have not been identified yet [15].…”

“…The standardized application technique and tension have not been identified yet. The systemic review and meta-analysis of KT on OA knee concluded that there is insufficient evidence of KT in treating OA knee and more studies are still needed [15]. Therefore, the aim of this study is to test the effectiveness of KT when used in conjunction with conventional exercise in older OA knee patient.…”

Short Term Effects of Kinesiotape Application in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

“…Sham bandın ise özellikle ağrı ve Alt Ekstremite Fonksiyonel Ölçeği sonuçlarına olumlu katkı sağladığı gözlendi. Osteoartritli olan hastalara uygulanan kinezyobandın; ağrıyı, enflamasyonu ve efüzyonu azalttığı, kas spazmını çözdüğü, diz stabilizasyonunda, eklem hareketinde ve yük dağılımında önemli görevleri olan uyluk kas kuvvetini arttırdığı düşünülmektedir (5,11,17). Kinezyobandın ağrıyı azaltma etkisini; nöro--müsküler yolaklardaki afferent geri bildirimi arttırıp kapı kontrol mekanizmasını işleve koyarak, infrapatellar yağ yastıkçığının enflamasyonunda azalma yaparak, ya da patellanın dizilim bozukluklarını düzeltip uygun yük dağılımını tekrar sağlayarak oluşturduğu öne sürülmektedir (17).…”

“…(5,10). Literatürde kinezyobant etkinliğine ilişkin çalışmalar incelendiğinde, araştırma sonuçlarının bazıları kinezyobandın ağrı, eklem hareket açıklığı, kas kuvveti üzerine etkili olduğunu desteklerken, diğerleri aksi görüş bildirmektedir (4,11). Kinezyobandın osteoartriti olanlarda olumlu veya olumsuz etkisi net olarak ortaya konamamasının yanı sıra, alt ekstremite işlevlerine olan etkisi de yeterince araştırılmamıştır.…”

Effectiveness of Mulligan Joint Mobilizations and Trunk Stabilization Exercises Versus Isometric Knee Strengthening in the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

“…A well-designed RCT is needed to evaluate the effects of elastic taping on pain, disability and sub-maximal exercise performance, especially in combination with exercise. 21 At present, there are no RCT studies of the effects of Mulligan joint mobilization during 24 supervised exercise sessions. There are also few high-quality methodological studies investigating the effects of Mulligan mobilization on the management of KOA; especially the 6-minute walk test (walking di culty), pain and disability.…”