Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a neuromuscular control exercise program for the knee joint using non-elastic taping on pain, functional disability, quality of life, balance ability, thickness, and contraction ratio of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), and vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) muscles in adults aged 65 years and older with knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: This study was a randomized controlled trial. A total of 44 elderly individuals (aged ≥ 65 years) with knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 22) and a control group (n = 22). Both groups underwent a neuromuscular control exercise program, with the experimental group receiving non-elastic taping and the control group receiving sham taping. Repeated measures ANOVA was performed to examine the main effect of time and the interaction effect between time and group. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant differences in VAS, K-WOMAC, EQ-5D, BBS, muscle thickness, and contraction ratio before and after intervention (P < .05). In addition, the experimental group showed more significant differences in the amount of change in K-WOMAC stiffness, K-WOMAC function, EQ-5D, BBS, muscle thickness, and contraction ratio values than the control group. CONCLUSION: A neuromuscular control exercise program using non-elastic taping for knee joints is an effective intervention method for improving knee joint pain, function, quality of life, balance ability, muscle thickness and contraction ratio in elderly patients aged ≥ 65 years, with knee osteoarthritis.