Exploring the Efficacy of Kinesio Taping as an Adjunct Treatment for Knee Osteoarthritis, Grade 1 & 2: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

.Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent chronic joint condition resulting in pain, stiffness, and reduced joint function. Kinesio taping (KT) has emerged as an adjunct treatment for OA. Objective: To examine the role of KT as an adjunctive intervention in the physiotherapy management of knee OA. Methods: A quasi-experimental investigation was conducted at Bethania Hospital, Pakistan, comparing the effectiveness of standard physiotherapy alone (Group 1) and standard physiotherapy plus KT (Group 2) in patients with knee OA grade I and II. By convenience sampling selected 50 participants aged above 40 with knee OA. Both groups received standard physiotherapy treatments, and KT was applied to Group 2 using a specific technique. Outcome measures included pain reduction Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), functional improvement using Western Ontario and McMaster Index (WOMAC), and presence of swelling and tenderness. Results: Demographic findings showed left-sided predominance of knee involvement, higher female prevalence, and a common age group of 40-45 years. Both groups demonstrated improvement in pain and functional outcomes post-intervention. The experimental group (Group 2) exhibited significantly lower WOMAC scores (p