AB1365-HPR INVESTIGATION OF THE ACUTE EFFECTS OF TAPING ON TISSUE TEMPARATURE, MUSCLE STRENGTH, FUNCTION AND BALANCE IN PATIENTS WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS
Authors: Sevtap Gunay Ucurum, Derya Ozer Kaya, Elif Umay Aslan
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2019)

<h3>Background</h3> Osteoarthritis (OA) mostly affects knee joint. It causes tissue temperature changes, muscle weakness, functional and balance impairments. Taping can be used to support knee joint. However, contradictory results presented in the literature (1-3). <h3>Objectives</h3> The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of taping on tissue temperature, muscle strength, function and balance in patients with knee OA. <h3>Methods</h3> Thirty-four patients with unilateral OA (34 females, age=60.118.29 years, height =159.765.27m; weight=80.1112.29 kg) were included. The patients were treated with a flexible kinesiology tape (Thera-Band Kinesiology tape, Cramer, USA). Supporting techniques for quadriceps muscle, patellar position and patellar tendon were applied. Before taping and after 30 min of application, tissue temperature with a thermal camera (Testo882, Germany), knee flexor and extensor muscle strength with a dynamometer (Lafayette, USA), function with timed up and go test and balance with computerized balance system (ProKin PK-254P,<i> Tecnobody</i>, Bergamo, Italy) were assessed. The paired samples t-test and Wilcoxon test used for analyses. <h3>Results</h3> The tissue temperature of the effected (34.661.16) and non-effected sides (34.871.08) of the cases were different (p=0.033). However, no significant difference was observed for tissue temperature before and after the taping (p=0,145). In the comparison of the effected side and non-effected side muscle strength, a significant difference was found for extensors (p=0.035). After taping the effected side, differences were found for extensor and flexor muscle strength (p=0.00; p=0.001) in comparison to before taping. While there was a significant difference in the time walking test before and after taping (p = 0.026), there was no difference for the balance scores (p&gt; 0.05). The values of the cases before and after taping showed at Table 1. <h3>Conclusion</h3> It was observed that taping might not affect tissue temperature and balance. However, muscle strength and function could be affected positively with the acute supporting effect of taping. <h3>References</h3> [1] Castrogiovanni P, Di Giunta A, Guglielmino C, Roggio F, Romeo D, Fidone F, Musumeci G. (2016). The effects of exercise and kinesio tape on physical limitations in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 1(4), 355-368. [2] Mutlu EK, Mustafaoglu R, Birinci T, Ozdincler AR. (2017). Does Kinesio taping of the knee improve pain and functionality in patients with knee osteoarthritis?: a randomized controlled clinical trial. American journal of physical medicine &amp; rehabilitation, 96(1), 25-33. [3] Wageck B, Nunes GS, Bohlen NB, Santos GM, de Noronha M. (2016). Kinesio Taping does not improve the symptoms or function of older people with knee osteoarthritis: a randomised trial. Journal of physiotherapy, 62(3), 153-158. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> None declared