Knee taping reduces osteoarthritis pain in study
19 July 2003
Therapeutic tape applied to the knee significantly reduces pain caused by osteoarthritis, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Melbourne's school of physiotherapy.
In a randomised controlled trial involving 87 patients aged 50 years and older with osteoarthritis of the knee, participants received one of 3 treatments: either therapeutic tape or a control tape (re-applied once weekly), or no tape.
Participants were assessed at the beginning of the study, after 3 weeks of treatment, and after 3 further weeks of no treatment.
The people who were treated with therapeutic tape reported the greatest reduction in pain, and benefits were maintained 3 weeks after treatment had stopped. The authors suggest that knee tape may reduce pain by realigning the patella (knee cap) and taking the load off painful soft tissues.
The researchers state that therapeutic knee taping, as an addition to exercise and drug treatment for knee osteoarthritis, is a simple and inexpensive self-management strategy for osteoarthritis of the knee.
Last Reviewed: 21 July 2003
