Effects of magnetic field therapy after taping application on pain and function of patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Sang-Hyuck Park, Young-Han Park, Jung-Ho Lee
PMID 28931985WHAT IT FOUND
Adding magnetic field therapy after either non-elastic or elastic taping significantly reduced pain and improved function in patients with knee osteoarthritis compared to standard physiotherapy alone.
No significant difference was found between the two taping types, so either can be used.
Key findings
01Both taping groups combined with magnetic field therapy showed significantly greater improvements in pain (VAS) and function (WOMAC) compared to the control group receiving only general physiotherapy.
02There was no significant difference in pain or function outcomes between the non-elastic taping group and the elastic taping group.
03All groups, including the control group, showed statistically significant within-group improvements in pain and function after the six-week intervention.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small (30 participants), making generalization difficult. The study did not assess the long-term effects or sustainability of the benefits after the six-week intervention ended. The control group received active treatment (hot pack and interferential current), so the results show the benefit of adding taping and magnetic fields to standard care, not versus no treatment. The study only examined knee osteoarthritis and did not explore effects on other joints or conditions.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the significant within-group improvements in the control group as evidence that standard physiotherapy alone is sufficient. The experimental groups showed significantly greater benefits. Also, do not assume one taping method is superior to the other, as no significant difference was found between them.