AB1412-HPR CHANGES OF GAIT SPEED AND PAIN AFTER APPLYING KINESIOTAPE ON QUADRICEPS FEMORIS MUSCLE IN PATIENTS WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS

Abstract

Background Knee osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative disease, known as the most common cause of difficulty walking in older adults and subsequently is associated with slow walking. Functional decline, increased risk of falls and presence of pain are, in many studies, related to the muscle weakness caused by osteoarthritis especially weakness of the quadriceps muscles. Pain is very noticeable while walking in rugged terrain, during ascent and descent of stairs, when changing from sitting to standing position as well as staying in one position for a long time. Many studies have shown that the strength of the quadriceps femoris muscle can affect gait, by improving or weakening it. Kinesio Tape is a physiotherapeutic technique, which reduces pain and increases muscular strength by irritating the skin receptors. Objectives The aims of this study was firstly to verify if the application of Kinesio Tape on quadriceps femoris muscle decreases time needed to accomplish the 10 meter walk test in patients with knee osteoarthritis and also in subjects without knee osteoarthritis. Secondly if applying Kinesio Tape on quadriceps femoris muscle reduces pain while walking only in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods In this study we observed the change of gait speed with the help of the 10-meter walk test before, one day and three days after the application of Kinesio Tape in quadriceps femoris muscle. We compared the results of the gait speed in two groups. In the first group, the Patients group, participated 102 out-patients with a clinical diagnosis of primary knee osteoarthritis, while in the second group, the Control group, participated 73 subjects with a main excluding criterion a clinical diagnosis of primary knee osteoarthritis. Secondly, we observed the change of pain, while walking for 10 meters at normal speed for the Patients group, before, one day and three days after the application, with the help of Numerical Pain Rating Scale - NRS. Results Our results indicated that there was a significant increase of gait speed in both groups while walking for 10 meters three days after application of Kinesio Tape on quadriceps femoris muscle. However there was not a significant change one day after the application of Kinesio Tape compared before its application in both groups. Also, there was a significant reduction of pain level 1 and 3 days after application of Kinesio Tape, compared to the level of pain before its application. Graphic 1: Comparison of values of 10-meter walk test (10MWT) in the control group (CG) and in the patients group (PG), before Kinesio Tape (KT) application (1), 1 day after KT application (2) and 3 days after KT application (3) Conclusion Our results indicated that there was a significant decrease of time needed to accomplish the 10 meter walk test and also a significant decrease of pain while walking for 10 meters. Kinesio Tape is a technique that can be used especially when changing walking stereotypes is a long term goal of the treatment.