The Effect of Physical Therapy Modalities and Kinesio Taping on Kinesiophobia and Thickness of the Quadriceps Muscle in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease with pathological structural and functional disorders all over the world. 27 million patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis in the USA alone.(1-2) The primary risk factor for OA is age however ; It is a multifactorial disease, including injury and genetic mutations.(3-6) The knee is the most commonly involved joint in OA. In the United States, about 14 million people is presumed to have symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. Typical OA manifests as joint pain which is exacerbated by activity and relieved by rest. In advanced stage, pain at rest and at night and morning stiffness lasting no more than 20-30 minutes can be seen. (2) The diagnosis is based on a detailed anamnesis, a complete physical examination, and diagnostic imaging. Imaging findings include joint space narrowing, osteophytes, pseudocyst and subchondral sclerosis in the subchondral bone.(9) Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments are applied. Exercise, conventional physical therapy ( hotpack, therapeutic ultrasound, tens) and kinesioband are some of the non-pharmacological treatments.