The Effect of Kinesiotaping Implementation After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this study was to measure effects of kinesiotaping on pain and range of motion in the conservative treatment of postoperative anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) rupture. MATERIAL-METHODS: A total of 26 patients(24 women, 2 men) who had unilateral ACL rupture 64.46±9.00 years old(46-81years), 13 had physiotherapy only(mean age 64.46±9.35 years),13 had physiotherapy and kinesiotape(mean age 64.46±9.01 years).The patients in both groups received physiotherapy program (ultrasound with 1 MHz, 1W/cm2 during 5minutes; CPM; strength exercise for quadriceps muscle and cold pack during 15 minute). Kinesiotape was applied to the knee and quadriceps of the patient’s leg using a prescribed application to facilitate muscle performance for the experimental group versus a only physiotherapy group.The patients were treated 20 times for four weeks. Socio-demographic variables (gender, age, body mass index, Kellgren-Lawrence system for classification of knee osteoarthritis, use of analgesic drug, pain during rest and activity (VAS=Visual Analog Scale), range of motion of knee flexion and extansion (universal goniometer), circumference measurements of the knee and the quadriceps muscle (up to 10 cm of patella) were measured at baseline, mid the treatment program and after the treatment program. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 22.0 for Windows.Frequency and percentage (average, standard deviation)were used as descriptive statistics of the study.The Wilcoxon test was used to compare the differences between before and after treatment measurements.The Kruskal Wallis test was used to compare groups.Significance was accepted as p<0.05. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in age and BMI between groups (p=0.898, 0.505). The data of stage 3(n=22) and 4(n=4) patients with osteoarthritis were gathered according to the Kellgren-Lawrence classification. Mean day of use of analgesic drug were 17.30±7.33 in KT group, 18.23±9.84 in physiotherapy group. When we compared pretreatment and posttreatment measures, significant differences were found in 2 groups. But KT group was better than the physiotherapy group in all parameters. Table 1 shows the comparison of the pre-treatment and post-treatment evaluation results between 2 groups. VAS scores during rest and activity, active flexion and extension of the knee, circumference measurements of the knee and the quadriceps muscle had better in KT group of patients when compare with physiotherapy program (p=0.008,0.000, 0.001, 0.000, 0.015, 0.045). CONCLUSION: For KT group of patients, pain, range of motion and circumference measurements were improved after 20 sessions physiotherapy plus kinesiotape implementation in patients with anterior cruciate ligaman rupture. The findings showed decreased pain and increase range of motion.