title: Evaluation of effectiveness of kinesiology taping as an adjunct to rehabilitation following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Preliminary report.
abstract: BACKGROUND. Kinesiology Taping (KT) is being increasingly more often used in musculoskeletal rehabilitation. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of Kinesiology Taping on rehabilitation outcomes in patients following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The study enrolled 26 patients (16 women and 10 men) aged between 20 and 41 years. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: an experimental group (Group 1), which received Kinesiology Taping, and a control group (Group 2), which followed the same rehabilitation protocol except for KT. Student's t test with a minimum significance level at p<0.05 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS. All participants demonstrated a significant improvement in the range of knee flexion and extension in the affected limb as soon as the end of the first week of rehabilitation (p˂0.001). This tendency persisted in the following weeks until Day 28. Thigh measurements revealed a faster increase in thigh circumference in Group 1. Significant swelling reduction was found among patients from the experimental group at all consecutive measurements. The greatest difference (p<0.001) was noted at the beginning of the rehabilitation. After 28 days of rehabilitation, pain intensity and pain frequency had significantly decreased in all patients (p<0.001). Patients from the control group used analgesics significantly more often. CONCLUSIONS. 1. The use of KT contributed to a faster improvement of the range of knee motion, reduction of oedema and greater improvement in thigh circumference. 2. A similar reduction in pain intensity was observed in all patients. However, pain significantly less often forced patients from the experimental group to use analgesics or reduced their activity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy Ward. Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boguszewski
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Center in Western Hospital in Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Poland.
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tomaszewska
authors.affiliation: Division of Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy Ward. Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Jakub Grzegorz
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Adamczyk
authors.affiliation: Division of Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy Ward. Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Białoszewski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D055052:Athletic Tape; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000517:prevention & control; D018953:Kinesiology, Applied / Q000379:methods*; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult