Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: The Effectiveness of Kinesio Taping Method for Knee Osteoarthritis. Randomized Double Blinded Clinical Trial.
Brief Summary: Purpose of our study is to evaluate effectiveness of Kinesio Taping method for knee osteoarthritis. Using simple concealed randomization procedure to form two groups (kinesio taping and control-nonspecific taping) of 100 knee osteoarthritis patients in each. 1 month all patients (depending on the group they will be allocated to) will receive either kinesio taping applications or non-specific taping: 4 applications per subject. Three times: before taping, after a month with tapes, and after 1 month without tapes evaluation of knee function, mobility, quality of life will be evaluated, including clinical examination of knee joint, measurements of knee flexion and extension by goniometer, circumference of leg over the knee, in ½ of thigh and in ½ of calf (to evaluate edema); pain will be evaluated by questionnaire, patella tendon algometry; force of calf flexors and extensors will be evaluated using Lovett manual muscle testing scale, goniometry for knee flexion/extension; for mobility, knee function, life quality evaluations - 10 Meter Walk , Five Times Sit to Stand Tests will be performed, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 2 version (SF-36 2v) questionnaires will be used. Also data about the need of analgesic medicament will be collected from subjects.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* diagnosed (and radiologically verified) I-III stage knee osteoarthritis, has no contraindications (exclusion criteria) to participate in research, are willing to follow studies protocol and gives informed approval to participate in this research in written form.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Rheumatoid arthritis or other systemic rheumatoid disease (LE, sclerodermia,.. etc)
* Fragile, very sensitive skin or it's lesions in areas where tapes are to be applied
* Inability to do functional tests according study protocol due to very impaired knee function or severe comorbidities.
* Diagnosed or suspected cancer in areas where tapes to be applied
* \< than 6 months after intra-articular injections in knee joint
* Constant usage of analgesic medicament due to comorbidities
* Pregnancy
* History of Kinesio Taping method applications in the past
* Need for orthotics
* Unwillingness not to use local ointments in knee region during participation in study period (i.e. 2 months)
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Knee pain on most days
* Either isolated patellofemoral osteoarthritis or mixed patellofemoral and tibiofemoral osteoarthritis, as based on x-ray

Exclusion Criteria:

* Bed- or chair-bound, usually uses an ambulation aid to walk (e.g., cane, crutch, or walker), or uses a wheelchair
* Pain emanating more from the back or hip than from the knee, as determined by screening questionnaire
* Low pain score on the visual analog scale (VAS) (less than 4 out of 10)
* Plans to move from the area within 10 months of study screening
* Symptomatic comorbid disease that limits activities more than knee pain does, as determined by screening questionnaire (e.g., congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
* Receiving corticosteroid injections in the month before study entry, or receiving hyaluronan in the 6-month period before study entry. No other treatments will result in exclusion, although for patients taking glucosamine and/or chondroitin and/or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), they must have taken these treatments for at least 2 months before study entry and must commit to not start a new treatment during the study.
* Bilateral total knee replacements or plans for a total knee replacement of the affected knee in the next 6 months
* Morbidly obese (body mass index greater than 35), as brace fitting and prevention of slippage of the brace will be difficult
* Known other causes of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, gout, psoriatic arthritis, and pseudogout
* Skin breakdown at the site where the brace will be applied
* Failure to pass the run-in test, or the brace falls down the leg during the run-in
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* • Female subjects aged 60 years and over, non-obese (BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 kg / m2), with diagnosis of knee OA according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (Altman et al. , 1986), which are: knee pain most of the day during the last weeks and age greater than 60 years (mandatory criteria), and at least two of the following criteria: stiffness after rest less than 30 minutes, crackle in the affected knee , joint increase of firm consistency, absence of temperature increase and painful hypersensitivity to palpation;

  * Individuals with radiographic signs of degeneration of the knee joint;
  * Individuals with any degree of degeneration according to the Kellgren-Lawrence scale;
  * Individuals with a pain scale above 3 according to NPRS;
  * Stiffness in the knee for at least 6 months prior to screening;
  * Stiffness during the beginning of activities;
  * Intermittent swelling;
  * Never have used KT;
  * Individuals with no history of associated joint disease or systemic rheumatic disease and / or history of surgery in the affected lower limb;
  * Individuals who are not under physiotherapeutic treatment during the intervention;
  * Individuals without neurological, vestibular, visual or auditory deficits that make evaluations impossible.

Exclusion Criteria:

* • Individuals who report pain during the procedure;

  * Individuals who do not complete the treatment time or who do not perform the evaluation procedures correctly, making it impossible to collect any of the data investigated;
  * Individuals with allergy to bandage or cutaneous injury in the region where KT will be applied;
  * Individuals who present hypertensive peak during the evaluations.
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* English speaking adults (\>18 years of age)
* Provided with a diagnosis of knee OA by a physician
* Self-report of having experienced pain and disability related to knee OA for at least 6 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Skin conditions in which application of phototherapy may be contra-indicated (skin cancer, people receiving radiation therapy)
* History of total joint arthroplasty of the affected knee
* Red flags suggestive of non-musculoskeletal etiology (i.e. fever/chills, unrelenting night pain, multi-segmental or bilateral loss of sensation, sudden unexplained weight loss).

Answer: A