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Maedeh Rezaei1, Ebrahim Ebrahimi *2, Houra Tavakoli3, Seyed Alihossein Nourbakhsh4, Hooman Minoonejad2, Guillermo Mendez-Rebolledo5
1- Islamic Azad University of Isfahan (Khorasgan), Isfahan, Iran
2- Department of Sport Injuries and Biomechanics, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
3- Sport Rehabilitation and Health Department, Faculty of Sports Sciences and Health, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
4- Department of Sports Injuries and Corrective Exercises, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
5- Somatosensory and Motor Research Laboratory (SOMA Research Lab), Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santo Tomás, Talca, Chile
2- Department of Sport Injuries and Biomechanics, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
3- Sport Rehabilitation and Health Department, Faculty of Sports Sciences and Health, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
4- Department of Sports Injuries and Corrective Exercises, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
5- Somatosensory and Motor Research Laboratory (SOMA Research Lab), Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santo Tomás, Talca, Chile
Abstract: (28 Views)
Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent musculoskeletal disorder and a major cause of pain and disability. Although rehabilitation is central to conservative management, Kinesio Taping (KT) has emerged as a potential adjunct. This study synthesized evidence on the effectiveness of KT combined with rehabilitation for pain, functional status, ROM, mobility, and knee-related function in individuals with KOA.
Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations. The review protocol was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (CRD420261397071). A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, covering all records available from database inception through June 2026. Statistical heterogeneity among the included studies was quantified using the I² statistic. Potential publication bias was examined through funnel plot inspection and Egger’s regression test. The methodological rigor of the included trials was appraised using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. The overall certainty of the available evidence was subsequently rated according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework.
Results: Out of 2876 papers, 33 RCTs involving 1,402 participants were included. KT combined with rehabilitation programs demonstrated significant improvements in pain (Hedges’ g = -1.023, 95% CI: −1.281 to −0.765), functional status (Hedges’ g = -0.864, 95% CI: −1.124 to −0.604), ROM (Hedges’ g = -0.857, 95% CI: −1.120 to −0.593), mobility (Hedges’ g = -0.804, 95% CI: −1.212 to −0.396), and knee-related function (Hedges’ g = -0.924, 95% CI: −1.653 to −0.196) compared with control interventions. Substantial heterogeneity was observed for pain (I² = 83%), functional status (I² = 79%), mobility (I² = 71%), and knee-related function (I² = 82%), whereas ROM demonstrated lower heterogeneity (I² = 40%). Subgroup analyses suggested that improvements in pain and functional status were statistically significant in studies including male or mixed-sex populations, whereas the female-only subgroup did not reach statistical significance for either pain (p = 0.109) or functional status (p = 0.780). According to GRADE criteria, evidence certainty ranged from low to moderate across outcomes.
Conclusion: Adding KT to rehabilitation programs appears to provide greater improvements in pain, functional status, ROM, mobility, and knee-related function than exercise-based interventions alone in individuals with KOA. However, substantial heterogeneity and methodological limitations across studies warrant cautious interpretation, and further high-quality RCTs with standardized protocols and long-term follow-up are needed.
Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations. The review protocol was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (CRD420261397071). A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, covering all records available from database inception through June 2026. Statistical heterogeneity among the included studies was quantified using the I² statistic. Potential publication bias was examined through funnel plot inspection and Egger’s regression test. The methodological rigor of the included trials was appraised using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. The overall certainty of the available evidence was subsequently rated according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework.
Results: Out of 2876 papers, 33 RCTs involving 1,402 participants were included. KT combined with rehabilitation programs demonstrated significant improvements in pain (Hedges’ g = -1.023, 95% CI: −1.281 to −0.765), functional status (Hedges’ g = -0.864, 95% CI: −1.124 to −0.604), ROM (Hedges’ g = -0.857, 95% CI: −1.120 to −0.593), mobility (Hedges’ g = -0.804, 95% CI: −1.212 to −0.396), and knee-related function (Hedges’ g = -0.924, 95% CI: −1.653 to −0.196) compared with control interventions. Substantial heterogeneity was observed for pain (I² = 83%), functional status (I² = 79%), mobility (I² = 71%), and knee-related function (I² = 82%), whereas ROM demonstrated lower heterogeneity (I² = 40%). Subgroup analyses suggested that improvements in pain and functional status were statistically significant in studies including male or mixed-sex populations, whereas the female-only subgroup did not reach statistical significance for either pain (p = 0.109) or functional status (p = 0.780). According to GRADE criteria, evidence certainty ranged from low to moderate across outcomes.
Conclusion: Adding KT to rehabilitation programs appears to provide greater improvements in pain, functional status, ROM, mobility, and knee-related function than exercise-based interventions alone in individuals with KOA. However, substantial heterogeneity and methodological limitations across studies warrant cautious interpretation, and further high-quality RCTs with standardized protocols and long-term follow-up are needed.
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