Efeitos do Kinesio Taping® na força muscular do quadríceps, função física e edema de mulheres com osteoartrite de joelho: ensaio clínico, controlado e randomizado

Abstract

Introduction: knee osteoarthritis is a chronic and inflammatory condition that affects joints and leads to both clinic and radiologic alterations. Although supposedly related to various benefits, Kinesio Taping® method remains as a therapeutic recourse with effectiveness widely questioned. Objective: to analyse the short-term effects of Kinesio Taping® on quadriceps muscle strength, physical function and swelling in women with light/moderate knee osteoarthritis. Methods: this is a randomised controlled clinical trial. 45 women with mean age of 66.83 years and diagnosed with light/moderated knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned for three groups: G1 - 60 minutes’ class about knee osteoarthritis; G2 - application of two simultaneous techniques of Kinesio Taping® (“Y” and “FAN”, tension-free applied on the most symptomatic knee); G3 - application with tension of two simultaneous techniques of Kinesio Taping® (tensions: “Y” = 30% and “FAN” = 10%). Volunteers were assessed before (T0), immediately after (T1) and 72 hours after intervention (T2). The following clinic outcomes were assessed: isometric peak force of quadriceps muscle by manual dynamometry (T0, T1 and T2), self-reported physical function by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (T0 e T2) and swelling by perimetry of the segment (T0 and T2). All data were analysed by the Statistical Package Social Science® software. Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Levene tests were used for analysing data’s normality and homogeneity, respectively. Intergroup comparisons were made by a mixed-model analysis of variance. Significance level was fixed in 5% and the confidence interval was of 95%. Results: No significant between-groups differences were observed, for any of the assessed outcomes, at any time. No adverse effect was observed during the interventions of this study. Conclusion: Kinesio Taping® was not superior to a minimal educative intervention in improving muscle strength, physical function and swelling in women with light/moderated knee osteoarthritis.