Comparative Effects of Wearing Knee Support Brace and Kinesiotaping on Pain, Physical Activity Level and Kinesiophobia in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA), primarily affecting knees, hips, and hands, is the most prevalent form of arthritis, with knee OA being a significant cause of disability in older individuals. It poses a substantial burden on personal health and healthcare systems, characterized by symptoms like joint pain, restricted motion, and muscle weakness. Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of knee support braces and kinesiotaping in managing symptoms of knee OA, focusing on pain reduction, physical activity enhancement, and kinesiophobia mitigation. Methods: Conducted at the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital from December 2022 to July 2023, this randomized controlled trial enrolled individuals aged 45-60 years with grade II-III medial compartment knee OA. Participants were purposively sampled and randomly allocated into two groups: the knee brace group and the kinesiotaping group. Data collection involved the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short-Form (IPAQ-SF) for physical activity level, and the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) for measuring kinesiophobia. Interventions included a three-month rehabilitation program with either knee braces or kinesiotaping, supplemented with a home exercise program. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25, employing parametric tests like independent sample t-tests and repeated measures ANOVA. Results: The study comprised 96 participants, with a mean age distribution across groups ranging from 45 to 60 years. At baseline, pain scores were comparable between groups. However, significant reductions in pain scores were noted in the kinesiotaping group at the 4th (mean difference = 0.39, p = 0.001), 8th (mean difference = 0.39, p = 0.001), and 12th weeks (mean difference = 0.71, p = 0.000). Physical activity levels, as per IPAQ-SF, also showed significant improvements in the kinesiotaping group at the 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks. Kinesiophobia levels, measured by TSK, decreased significantly in the kinesiotaping group over the study period. Conclusion: Kinesiotaping was found to be more effective than knee braces in reducing pain, enhancing physical activity levels, and decreasing kinesiophobia in patients with knee OA. These findings suggest that kinesiotaping could be a preferred non-surgical intervention in the management of knee OA symptoms.