Clinical and Functional Effects of Kinesiotaping and Physiotherapy in Grade 2 or Less Osteoarthritis Following Degenerative Meniscal Tears in Football Players – A Randomized Control Trial

Abstract

Objective

Degenerative meniscal tears are a common cause of knee pain commonly diagnosed in football players and considered to be a major risk factor for development of knee osteoarthritis (OA). This study aimed to investigate the clinical and functional effects of a combined intervention involving kinesiotaping and physiotherapy in football players diagnosed with Grade 2 or less Osteoarthritis following degenerative meniscal tears.

Materials and Methods

Fifty-six football players following meniscus injury with grade 2 or less OA were randomly assigned into two groups (Kinesiotaping and physiotherapy – Group A and Physiotherapy alone – Group B). Both groups received a same physiotherapy program while group A received the kinesiotaping after receiving physiotherapy. Pain intensity, functional disability, sports performance and quality of life were measured with visual analogue scale (VAS), WOMAC scale, timed up and go test, 40m zig-zag test and short form-12questionnaire. The basic demographic and clinical characters were measured. The mean (95% CI) and standard deviation between groups was estimated using multi model repeated measure (MMRM) analysis.

Results

The results of the mixed model repeated measure analysis of variance showed significant interaction between groups (A and B) and time (before and after intervention) (p=0.001). After eight weeks of intervention, and at the end of 6 months of follow-up, the pain intensity is 3.1 (95% CI 2.94 to 3.25), functional disability (WOMAC) 30.0 (95% CI 28.16 to –31.83), TUG 4.9 (95% CI 4.34 to 5.45), 40m zig zag test 6.3 (95% CI 5.54 to 7.05) and quality of life –30.4 (95% CI –33.2 to –27.5) shows more improvement (p=0.001) in group A than group B.

Conclusion

The results showed that kinesiotaping with physiotherapy showed significant improvement in pain intensity, functional status, sports performance and quality of life in patients with grade 2 or less osteoarthritisfollowing degenerative meniscal tears in football players.

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund und Ziel

Knieschmerzen bei Fußballspielern sind häufig durch degenerative Meniskusrisse bedingt, die als wichtiger Risikofaktor für die Entwicklung von Gonarthrose gelten. Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war es, die klinischen und funktionellen Wirkungen einer Kombination von Kinesiotaping und Physiotherapie bei Fußballspielern mit Gonarthrose ≤ Grad 2 infolge degenerativer Meniskusrisse zu untersuchen.

Material und Methode

Insgesamt wurden 56 Fußballspieler mit Gonarthrose ≤ Grad 2 infolge von Meniskusverletzungen randomisiert zwei Gruppen zugeteilt (Gruppe A: Kinesiotaping plus Physiotherapie; Gruppe B: nur Physiotherapie). Beide Gruppen erhielten dasselbe Physiotherapieprogramm; Gruppe A wurde nach erfolgter Physiotherapie zusätzlich mit Kinesiotaping behandelt. Die Erhebung von Schmerzintensität, Funktionseinschränkungen, sportlicher Leistung und Lebensqualität erfolgte mittels visueller Analogskala, WOMAC-Skala, Timed Up and Go-Test (TUG-Test), 40m-Zick-Zack-Test und SF-12-Fragebogen zum Gesundheitszustand. Außerdem wurden die demografischen Basisdaten und klinischen Charakteristika erfasst. Die Schätzung des Mittelwerts (95-%-KI) und der Standardabweichung zwischen den Gruppen erfolgte mittels MMRM (Mixed Model Repeated Measures)-Analyse.

Ergebnisse

In der Varianzanalyse/MMRM fand sich eine statistisch signifikante Interaktion zwischen den Gruppen (A versus B) und hinsichtlich des Zeitpunkts (vor versus nach der Intervention) (p = 0,001). Nach achtwöchiger Intervention und sechsmonatiger Nachbeobachtung zeigte sich eine ausgeprägtere Verbesserung in Gruppe A im Vergleich zur Gruppe B hinsichtlich Schmerzintensität (3,1; 95-%-KI 2,94 bis 3,25), Funktionseinschränkungen (WOMAC: 30.0; 95-%-KI 28,16 bis –31,83), TUG (4,9; 95-%-KI 4,34 bis 5,45), 40 m-Zick-Zack-Test (6,3; 95-%-KI 5,54 bis 7,05) und Lebensqualität (–30,4; 95-%-KI –33.2 bis –27,5).

Schlussfolgerung

Die Ergebnisse der Studie zeigen, dass mittels Kinesiotaping in Kombination mit Physiotherapie signifikante Verbesserungen hinsichtlich Schmerzintensität, Funktionsstatus, sportlicher Leistung und Lebensqualität bei Fußballspielern mit Gonarthrose ≤ Grad 2 infolge degenerativer Meniskusrisse erzielt werden können.

Keywords

meniscus tear - grade 2 osteoarthritis - Kinesiotaping - Patellar taping - functional status

Schlüsselwörter

Meniskusriss - Arthrose Grad 2 - Kinesiotaping - Patella-Taping - Funktionsstatus

Publication History

Received: 03 June 2024

Accepted after revision: 11 April 2025

Article published online:
23 May 2025

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