A comparative study on the influence of kinesio taping and laser therapy on knee joint position sense, pain intensity, and function in individuals with knee osteoarthritis

<p>Mazloum V</p>

A comparative study on the influence of kinesio taping and laser therapy on knee joint position sense, pain intensity, and function in individuals with knee osteoarthritis

Mazloum V

Islamic Azad University Karaj Branch, Iran

: Clin Res Orthop

Abstract

Introduction: Conservative rehabilitation methods are assumed as a fundamental part of treatment in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). The objective was to investigate the influence of Kinesio Taping® (KT®) and low level laser therapy (LT) on pain intensity, function, and knee joint position sense (JPS) in such patients. Materials and Methods: Twenty-six male patients (Mean±SD of age: 48.5±4.6 years) with unilateral knee OA were randomly divided in to two groups of KT® (N=13) and LT (N=13). Both groups followed their own specific therapeutic protocol in addition to routine physiotherapy program for 10 sessions. The outcome measurements included pain intensity, function, and knee JPS; which were evaluated using visual analogue scale, ‘Up and Go test’, and reproduction of target angle at baseline and after completing the interventions; respectively. Results: Both methods can significantly improve pain intensity, reduce the time to perform ‘Up and Go test’, and reduce the angle reproduction error of 60º knee flexion (P<0.001). Mean difference for target angle reproduction error was more significant in KT group compared to LT group (P<0.001); while no significant mean difference was found for other measurements (P>0.05). Conclusion: KT® and low level laser can improve pain, knee JPS, and function in clients with knee OA; however there is better effect of KT® on knee JPS.