This study aims to explore how kinesiology taping affects people with mild to moderate meniscus injuries (grades I/II), focusing on pain, movement fears, muscle strength, balance, joint movement, and quality of life. Two groups will be involved: one will receive kinesiology taping on the thigh muscle with some tension, while the other will receive a placebo tape with no tension. Researchers will measure various factors, including pain and muscle strength, both before and 48-72 hours after taping.
This study aims to understand the short-term (acute) effects of kinesiology taping on people with mild to moderate meniscus injuries (grade I/II). These injuries, affecting the cartilage in the knee, can cause pain, reduced mobility, and fear of movement. Kinesiology taping, a popular therapy, involves applying elastic tape to support muscles and joints. This research looked at whether taping could improve pain, muscle strength, movement, balance, and quality of life in patients with these knee injuries. Study Design The study will use a randomized, placebo-controlled, and double-blinded design, meaning that patients were randomly assigned to two groups, and neither the patients nor the researchers knew which group each person was in during the treatment. Experimental Group: will receive kinesiology taping on the quadriceps muscle (the large muscle at the front of the thigh) using a 'Y-shaped' technique with moderate tension (25-50% stretch). Control Group: will receive a placebo tape applied without tension and placed in a different direction. Measurements To evaluate the effects of taping, several aspects will be measured both before the tape was applied and 48-72 hours later: Pain levels Fear of movement (kinesiophobia) Muscle strength (ability to extend the knee) Proprioception (awareness of limb position and force applied) Joint range of motion (how much the knee can bend and straighten) Joint position sense (accuracy in detecting knee position with eyes closed) Quality of life, using a questionnaire (SF-36) that assesses various aspects like physical function and energy levels.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
26
'Y shaped' kinesiology taping was applied on quadriceps femoris muscle, based on facilitation technique with 25-50% stretching.
A tape without tension was applied perpendicular on the quadriceps femoris muscle.
Amasya University
Amasya, Merkez, Turkey (Türkiye)
Pain
Pain assessment was made with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The patient was asked to mark where his or her pain was on the scale by writing "0: No pain, 10: Unbearable pain" at the two ends of the 10-centimeter scale.
Time frame: Baseline and 48 hours after the application
Knee extension muscle strength
A hand dynamometer (MicroFet 2 HHD) was used to measure the patients' knee extension muscle strength. Measurements were recorded in kilograms. For measurement, the patient was positioned without support, with his legs hanging off the bed from the knees, knees flexed at 90°, feet free and arms crossed over the shoulders. During the measurement, the thigh to be measured was stabilized with one hand after the patients completed maximum knee extension.
Time frame: Baseline and 48 hours after the application
Fear of movement
It was evaluated with the Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale (TKÖ). This scale, developed to measure fear of movement/re-injury, consists of 17 questions. The scale includes injury/re-injury and fear-avoidance parameters in work-related activities.
Time frame: Baseline and 48 hours after the application
Proprioceptive force sense
It was evaluated with a pressurized biofeedback device. While the patients were lying on the treatment bed in a supine position, the biofeedback device was placed under the knee and its pressure was adjusted to 20 mmHg. Patients were asked to make maximum isometric contraction of the quadriceps femoris muscle and maintain it for 5 seconds. The highest value read from the device during the patients' contractions was recorded.
Time frame: Baseline and 48 hours after the application
Joint range of motion
Knee flexion range of motion measurements were made using a goniometer while the patient was lying in the prone position.
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Time frame: Baseline and 48 hours after the application
Joint position sense
Baseline Digital Inclinometer was used for this. Knee extension movement was performed for the right and left extremities in eyes open and eyes closed positions. The reposition angle method was used to measure joint position sense. According to this method; The patient's extremity was moved to the required position by the physiotherapist. The patient was asked to remember this position by waiting 5 seconds in this position. The patient was then asked to bring his extremity back to that position.
Time frame: Baseline and 48 hours after the application
Quality of life
It was evaluated using the SF-36 scale. The scale consists of a total of 36 questions in eight subsections. These sections are: physical function, body pain, limitation due to physical problems, limitation due to emotional problems, cognitive well-being, social competence, energy, general health. In the scale, each section is evaluated separately, and each question is scored between 0 and 100. The increase in score is interpreted as an improvement in health status.
Time frame: Baseline and 48 hours after the application