Current Evidence Does Support the Use of KT to Treat Chronic Knee Pain in Short Term: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate whether KT is better than placebo taping, nonelastic taping, or no taping in reducing pain. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Central Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov were systematically searched up to 20 October 2020 for randomized controlled studies that used KT to treat chronic knee pain according to PRISMA guidelines. We extracted the mean differences and SD in pretreatment and posttreatment for selected outcomes measured in the experimental and control groups for subsequent meta-analyses. RESULTS: In total, 8 studies involving 416 participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Our results indicated that KT is better than other tapings (placebo taping or nonelastic taping) in the early four weeks. The mean difference was −1.44 (95% CI: −2.04–−0.84, I(2) = 49%, P ≤ 0.01). Treatment methods which were performed for more than six weeks (0.16 (95% CI: −0.35–0.68, I(2) = 0%, P=0.53)) show no significant difference in reducing pain. In studies in which visual analogue scale was measured, a positive effect was observed for KT combined with exercise program training (−3.27 (95% CI: −3.69–2.85, I(2) = 0%, P < 0.05)). CONCLUSION: KT exhibited significant but temporary pain reduction.