Effects of adding Kinesiotaping to conventional physiotherapy on pain, function, and Kinesiophobia in knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a major cause of pain and functional limitation, and conventional physiotherapy is widely used in its management. Although kinesiotaping (KT) is commonly applied as an adjunct intervention, its additional effectiveness remains unclear. Aims: This study investigated the additional effects of kinesiotaping combined with conventional physiotherapy on pain, functional status, and kinesiophobia in individuals with unilateral KOA. Methods: Forty-four participants with unilateral KOA were randomly assigned to either a conventional physiotherapy (CP) group or a kinesiotaping (KT) group. Both groups received a 4-week rehabilitation program including ultrasound, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, patellofemoral mobilization, and exercise therapy. Kinesiotaping was additionally applied every 3 days in the KT group. Outcome measures included pain intensity (VAS), kinesiophobia (TSK), fear-avoidance beliefs (FABQ), functional performance (30-s sit-to-stand and stair climb tests), dynamic balance (Functional Reach Test), and WOMAC scores. Statistical analyses included non-parametric tests and ANCOVA adjusted for baseline values. Results: Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in all outcome measures after treatment (p < 0.05). Change-score analyses indicated greater improvements in kinesiophobia, fear-avoidance beliefs, and stair-climbing performance in the KT group. However, baseline-adjusted ANCOVA showed no significant between-group differences in pain, WOMAC scores, sit-to-stand performance, or dynamic balance (p > 0.05). Significant differences in kinesiophobia, fear-avoidance beliefs, and stair-climbing performance favored the CP group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Both interventions improved clinical outcomes in individuals with KOA. However, baseline-adjusted analyses indicated that kinesiotaping did not provide additional benefit beyond conventional physiotherapy.