Effects of elastic therapeutic taping on knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Xin Li, Xuan Zhou, Howe Liu, Nan Chen, Juping Liang, Xiaoyan Yang, Guoyun Zhao, Yanping Song, Qing Du

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Elastic therapeutic taping (ET) has been widely used for a series of musculoskeletal diseases in recent years. However, there remains clinical uncertainty over its efficiency for knee osteoarthritis (knee OA) management. To assess the effects of ET on patients with knee OA, we investigated outcomes including self-reported pain, knee flexibility, knee-related health status, adverse events, muscle strength, and proprioceptive sensibility. Ten databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science, PEDro, Research Gate, CNKI, CBM, and Wanfang were systematically searched. Eleven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 168 participants with knee OA provided data for the meta-analysis. Statistical significance was reported in four from five outcomes, such as self-related pain (during activity, MD -0.85, 95% CI, -1.55 to -0.14; P =0.02), knee flexibility (MD 7.59, 95% CI, 0.61 to 14.57; P =0.03), knee-related health status (WOMAC scale, MD -4.10, 95% CI, -7.75 to -0.45; P =0.03), and proprioceptive sensibility (MD -4.69, 95% CI, -7.75 to -1.63; P =0.003), while no significant enhancement was reported regarding knee muscle strength (MD 1.25, 95% CI, -0.03 to 2.53; P =0.06). Adverse events were not reported in any of the included trials. The overall quality of evidence was from moderate to very low. In conclusion, there is underpowered evidence to suggest that ET is effective in the treatment of knee OA. Large, well-designed RCTs with better designs are needed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)296-308
Number of pages13
JournalAging and Disease
Volume9
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Apr 2018

Keywords

  • Kinesiotape
  • Knee osteoarthritis
  • Meta-analysis
  • Systematic review

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effects of elastic therapeutic taping on knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this