OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of elastic taping on pain, physical function, range of motion (ROM), muscle strength in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). DESIGN: We searched the PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Scopus, Embase, Ovid, CNKI and Wanfang to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCT). The primary outcome measures were pain, physical function. The secondary outcome measures were ROM and muscle strength. RESULTS: Eleven randomized controlled trials involving 490 patients with knee osteoarthritis were included. A statistically significant difference was detected in pain (SMD -0.78, 95%CI 1.07 to -0.50, p < 0.00001), physical function (SMD 0.73, 95%CI -1.03 to -0.43, p < 0.00001), ROM (MD 2.04, 95%CI 0.14 to 3.94, p = 0.04) and quadriceps muscle strength (MD 2.42, 95%CI 1.09 to 3.74, p = 0.0004). No significant differences were found for the hamstring muscle strength. CONCLUSION: Elastic taping has significant effects on pain, physical function, ROM and quadriceps muscle strength in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The currently evidence is insufficient to draw conclusions on the effects of elastic taping combined with other physiotherapy for KOA. Further studies are needed to investigate the long-term effects of elastic taping combined with other physiotherapy compared to elastic taping alone for KOA.

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