The effect of physical therapy modalities and kinesio taping on kinesiophobia and thickness of the quadriceps muscle in patients with knee osteoarthritis

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of isometric and isotonic exercise, kinesio taping in addition to this exercise and physical therapy in addition to this exercise on the level of kinesiophobia and thickness of quadriceps muscle in patient with knee osteoarthritis. In order to investigate this effect 90 patients who applied to Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital of Abant İzzet Baysal University Faculty of Medicine with the knee pain complaint were included. These patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). Patients with stage 2 and 3 according to Kellgren Lawrence Classification were included this study. It was planned as randomized and prospective. The patients were randomly divided into three group. Group 1 was given isometric knee exercises three times a week, half an hour a day during four weeks. Group 2 was given kinesio tape theraphy in addition to this exercises program. Kinesio tape treatment was applied three times a week for two weeks. Group 3 was given convantionel physical therapy ten sessions for two weeks in addition to exercises program. Physical therapy consisted of hotpack, therapeutic ultrasound and tens treatments. All patients were evaluated with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), TAMPA Kinesiophobia Scale before and after treatments. In addition, quadriceps muscle thickness and vastus intermedius muscle thickness were measured with a diagnostic ultrasound device before and after treatments of all patients. Improvements in VAS, WOMAC, TAMPA Scale were observed in all groups. This improvement was statistically significant. When this improvements were evaluated between the groups, no statistically significant difference was found. Quadriceps muscle thickness and vastus intermedius muscle thickness increased after treatments in all groups compared to before treatment. This increase was statistically significant. When this improvements were evaluated between the groups, no statistically significant difference was found. This findings showed that exercise therapy could improve patients' VAS, WOMAC, TAMPA values and increase quadriceps muscle thickness and vastus intermedius muscle thickness.