Effects of a taping method on pain and ROM of the knee joint in the elderly (2005)

Purpose
This study was to investigate the effects of a taping method on pain and ROM of the knee joint in the elderly.

Method
The subjects were seniors registered in a senior welfare center in D city. An experimental group of 30 persons and a control group of 33 persons were chosen and according to the proper conditions and a knee pain score was marked from 1-5 on a Numerical Pain Rating Scale. For the experimental group, the taping method was conducted three times a week for four weeks (twelve times in all) but the control group did not receive taping. The measuring instrument of knee pain was a numerical pain rating scale from 0 to 10 and the ROM score was the average value of three measured values with a goniometer. The data was analyzed with SPSS WIN 10.0 using an chi(2)-test, t-test, repeated measures ANOVA, and time contrast.

Result
Knee joint pain was significantly decreased in the experimental group over that of the control group (p=.001). In addition, knee joint ROM of the experimental group was significantly improved over that of the control group (p=.001).

Conclusion
It was proven that the taping method was effective for pain relief and increasing ROM of the knee joint in the elderly.