Kinesiology Tape for Knee Osteoarthritis: Immediate Effects in Older Adults

Can kinesiology tape (KT) really make a difference for older adults with knee osteoarthritis? A 2019 study in Medicine explored the short-term impact of KT on pain, walking ability, and balance in people over 60 with radiographically confirmed knee OA.

How to RockTape your knee video: https://youtu.be/jRnpbBKwSfc

What the Researchers Did

Participants: 10 older adults with knee OA.
Design: Each participant completed tests both with and without KT.
Intervention: KT was applied to both knees with light stretch (10–15%) in patterns supporting the quadriceps and patellofemoral region (see image above).
Outcomes measured:
- Pain (VAS) at rest and during walking
- 10-meter walk test (10MWT)
- Timed Up and Go (TUG)

Key Findings

Walking pain: KT significantly reduced pain during walking (about 1 point on VAS).
Walking speed: Participants walked faster with KT, showing an improvement that exceeded the minimal clinically important difference (MCID).
Dynamic balance (TUG): Time improved by ~1.4 seconds, also exceeding the MCID.
Safety: No adverse effects were reported, though two participants noted mild discomfort when removing the tape (ouch!).

Why It Might Work

The authors suggest KT could:

Stimulate cutaneous receptors, modulating pain (gate control theory)
Provide mild joint support and proprioceptive feedback
Improve confidence during gait, indirectly enhancing performance

Reassuring to read that these are the exact mechanisms we discuss on our RockTape courses.

Strengths and Limitations

Strengths:

Clear focus on immediate effects
Clinically meaningful outcomes (gait speed, TUG, pain during movement)

Limitations:

Very small sample (n = 10)
No sham taping control
Only short-term effects measured (minutes, not weeks)

Clinical Takeaways

KT may be a useful adjunct to reduce movement-related pain and improve mobility in older adults with knee OA.
Effects appear short-term — useful before gait training, rehab sessions, or functional tasks.
Resting pain is unlikely to change.
Always screen for skin tolerance, especially in older patients with fragile skin.

Bottom Line

Kinesiology tape is not a cure for knee osteoarthritis, but this study suggests it can provide immediate improvements in walking comfort, speed, and balance.

KT is a simple, low-risk tool to help patients engage more confidently in movement and exercise.

Reference: Kim, T.H., Lee, J.H. and Lee, Y.S., 2019. Immediate effects of kinesiology tape on the pain and gait function in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. Medicine, 98(45), p.e17770.

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