Acute effect of kinesiology taping on muscle strength, tissue temperature, balance, and mobility in female patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

AIM: The data on the action mechanism of the kinesiology taping (KT) used to reduce pain and inflammation, provide mechanical support, and facilitate or inhibit muscles in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee are contradictory. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of KT treatment on muscle strength, tissue temperature, balance, and mobility in female patients diagnosed with OA of the knee. METHODS: Thirty-four female patients (age: 60.26 ± 6.51 years) who were diagnosed with Kellgren-Lawrence Grade 2 OA according to the American Rheumatology Association (ACR-1986) criteria were included in the study. Patients who were performed KT with the superior Y, inferior Y, and U strip techniques were evaluated before and 30 min after taping. Muscle strength was assessed with a handheld dynamometer, tissue temperature with a thermal camera, balance with a monoaxial balance platform, and mobility the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. RESULTS: After taping, there was a significant increase in the muscle strength during both extension and flexion (p<.001, p=.005). There was no statistically significant difference in the tissue temperature and balance scores before and after taping (p=.219, p>.05). There was a significant improvement in TUG scores, which evaluated mobility, after taping (p=.033). CONCLUSIONS: Although KT treatment seems to be ineffective on tissue temperature and balance in the short term in patients with OA of the knee, we are of the opinion that patients should be included in the treatment program due to its positive effects on muscle strength and mobility.

Comparison of different electrotherapy methods and exercise therapy in shoulder impingement syndrome: A prospective randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess and compare the effects of different electrotherapy methods and exercise therapy on pain, function and quality of life in shoulder impingement syndrome. METHODS: Eighty-three patients (66 females, 17 males; mean age: 48.2 ± 7.33 years) with shoulder impingement syndrome were selected and 79 of them were randomly allocated into four groups. Group 1 (n = 19, mean age: 47.89 ± 7.12 years) was given hot pack and exercises, Group 2 (n = 20, mean age: 47.70 ± 6.51 years) was given hot packs, exercises and interferential current, Group 3 (n = 20, mean age: 48.50 ± 8.34 years) was given hot packs, exercises and TENS and Group 4 (n = 20, mean age: 48.55 ± 7.89 years) was given hot packs, exercises and ultrasound three times a week for four weeks. Assessments were made before treatment, right after it and three months after that using the visual analog scale (VAS), Short Form-36 (SF-36) and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) outcome measures. RESULTS: At the fourth week and third month assessments, all groups showed significant improvements in terms of pain, DASH and SF-36 physical component scores (p < 0.05). In intragroup comparisons, a significant difference between pre- and post-treatment results was found only in SF-36 mental component scores of Group 2. No significant difference was observed between the groups in any stage of the study period (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Application of ultrasound, interferential current and TENS in addition to exercise therapy in shoulder impingement syndrome treatment had similar improvements in terms of pain, function and physical component of quality of life. However, interferential current treatment showed significantly better outcomes for the mental component of quality of life. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I, Therapeutic study.