A recent research study offers valuable insights for physical therapists and massage therapists on the potential benefits of using kinesio taping as part of the rehabilitation process following knee and hip replacement surgeries. This systematic review and meta-analysis explored how kinesio taping might impact pain, swelling, range of motion, and joint function in patients recovering from these common procedures.
How the Study Was Conducted
This study was a comprehensive review that looked at data from multiple previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The researchers searched several large medical databases to find studies that met their criteria. They specifically focused on RCTs where patients undergoing recovery from total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) received kinesio taping along with their standard rehabilitation. These results were then compared to patients who only received the standard rehabilitation.
The researchers analyzed the data from 11 different studies involving a total of 774 participants. They carefully assessed the quality and potential for bias in each included study to ensure the findings were reliable.
Key Takeaways for Your Practice
The findings from this review provide some practical guidance:
- For Knee Arthroplasty Patients: The study suggests that adding kinesio taping to standard postoperative rehabilitation can be beneficial for patients recovering from total knee replacement. It was found to be effective in reducing oedema (swelling) and pain, and improving joint function. This indicates that kinesio taping could be a useful adjunct therapy in your treatment plans for TKA patients to help manage these common post-operative issues and potentially enhance their recovery of movement and function.
- For Hip Arthroplasty Patients: Interestingly, the study did not find a significant benefit of kinesio taping for pain relief in patients following total hip replacement.
In Summary
Based on this research, incorporating kinesio taping into the rehabilitation of patients after total knee arthroplasty may be a valuable strategy to help manage swelling and pain and improve joint function. However, for patients recovering from hip arthroplasty, kinesio taping did not show the same benefits for pain relief.
As with any treatment modality, it's important to consider the individual needs of your patients and use your clinical judgment when deciding whether to incorporate kinesio taping into their recovery plan.
You can read more about the study here: Systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of kinesio taping on pain, oedema, range of motion and joint function after knee or hip arthroplasty
Mei, T., Shuai, Y., Wu, D., & Yu, H. (2025). Effects of kinesio taping in patients undergoing knee or hip arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of rehabilitation medicine, 57, jrm40784. https://doi.org/10.2340/jrm.v57.40784