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Knee Taping Helps Osteoarthritis Symptoms

Therapeutic knee support reduced pain and enhanced functional capacity in patients with osteoarthritis.

An American College of Rheumatology practice guideline recommends taping for knee osteoarthritis, which is a leading cause of pain and disability in elders. However, little evidence exists to support this recommendation. Australian investigators randomly assigned 87 patients (age, >50) with symptomatic knee arthritis (pain and radiologic findings) to 1 of 3 groups: therapeutic taping (i.e., rigid strapping tape and hypoallergenic undertape to provide medial patellar glide and tilt, anteroposterior tilt, and unloading of the infrapatellar fat pad or the pes anserinus), nontherapeutic control taping (no support provided), or no taping. Tape was applied for 3 weeks, and evaluations were performed at baseline, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks.

At 3 weeks, pain scores (measured by visual analogue scale) had improved from baseline in 73% of the therapeutic-tape group, in 49% of the control-tape group, and in 10% of the no-tape group -- the difference between the therapeutic- and no-tape groups was significant. The benefit persisted for at least 3 weeks after the intervention was completed. Among secondary outcomes that included physical function, physical role, bodily pain, and restriction of activity, the therapeutic-tape intervention was better than no tape; control taping yielded an intermediate benefit.

Comment: This relatively simple intervention provided clinically important pain relief. Given that this study was of relatively short duration, we don't know how long the effect might persist. In fact, we're not even certain why taping works in the first place. At the time of publication, the full text of the original article was available free of charge.

— Keith I. Marton, MD

Published in Journal Watch General Medicine August 29, 2003

Citation(s):

Hinman RS et al. Efficacy of knee tape in the management of osteoarthritis of the knee: Blinded randomised controlled trial. BMJ 2003 Jul 19; 327:135-8.

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