Immediate effects of adhesive tape on pain and disability in individuals with knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Objectives. To evaluate the effects of two knee taping techniques, therapeutic tape and neutral tape, on pain and observed disability in symptomatic generalized knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods. Using a within-subjects study design, 18 participants were tested under three conditions in random order: untaped, wearing therapeutic knee tape and wearing neutral knee tape. Outcome measures included assessment of pain during each of four activities (using a visual analogue scale) and assessment of observed disability (walking speed, timed up and go test, and the step test). Results. Therapeutic tape significantly reduced pain on three of the four activities assessed, when compared with the neutra..