THE EFFECTS OF QUADRICEPS KINESIO TAPE™ ON GAIT IN INDIVIDUALS WITH KNEE PAIN

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the effect of Kinesio Tape™ on pain and gait for people with symptomatic knee pain, when applied the Kinesio Tape™ on the quadriceps muscles. Methods: 22 participants with knee pain were randomly assigned to sham or the Kinesio Tape™ (KT) group, while 11 participants without knee pain were assigned to a control group. The control and the KT groups received the quadriceps facilitation tape method, while participants in the sham group had sham KT (without tension) application. There were four data collections: baseline, immediate post-tape, three days post-tape, and three days post-tape removal. Six walking trails were collected via 3D motion capture system. The Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) was used to assess knee pain and function. The gait variables analyzed were walking velocity, peak knee adduction angle (PKAA), peak knee adduction moment (PKAM), peak knee flexion angle (PKFA), KFA at initial contact (IC), peak knee flexion moment (PKFM), maximum vertical ground vertical force (GRF), and loading rate. Result: There were group effects for all KOOS parameters (p < 0.001) indicating the higher knee pain level and lower functionality in knee pain (KT and sham) groups, while there were time effects for walking velocity (p = 0.002) indicating learning effect for all groups. Additionally, PKAA (p = 0.004), PKFA (p = 0.027) were significantly different in the KT group; however, clinical significance remains unclear on these variables. Conclusion: Kinesio Tape™ has effects on the gait variables for individuals with knee pain, particularly for PKAA and PKFA, but it is unclear whether the effects are positive or not.