Immediate Effect of Quadriceps Elastic Taping Application as a Supplementary Treatment on Gait Performance in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Serial Case Report

Abstract

: Quadriceps strength is an important determinant of walking in subjects with knee OA (KOA). Quadriceps Elastic Taping (ET) application might immediately improve gait performance while other modalities may need time to show improvement. Case Description: Seven patients with KOA (9 knees) presented with pain during weight bearing. ET was prescribed as a supplementary treatment to improve gait performance. Increased gait performance such as walking speed and reduced excessive knee flexion during loading response was seen in 77% and 66% of subjects respectively. In order to evaluate changes in muscle contraction immediately after ET application, surface EMG examination was done and we found only 55% of subjects have increased percentage of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). Discussion: Increased cutaneous input during ET application in the afferent nerves may activate a loop via afferent and efferent nerve fibres which eventually increasing quadriceps muscle activation that may reduce joint load during gait. Unexpectedly, increased quadriceps contraction after ET application was inconsistent, therefore placebo effect may also play an important role in developing the findings in this study. Conclusion: ET application have potential to improve gait performance in patients with KOA. Further studies are needed to prove ET effect on gait performance.