Short-Term Effects of the Kinesio Taping® on Early Postoperative Hip Muscle Weakness in Male Patients With Hamstring Autograft or Allograft Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE: Kinesio Taping® (KT) is a widely used treatment method in musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Little is known about the KT treatment and hip strength in patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the KT treatment on hip muscle weakness in early rehabilitation of ACLR and the possible determinants of the ACLR-hip strength deficit (HSD).

DESIGN: Double-blind sham controlled study.

SETTING: Rehabilitation department.

PATIENTS: 26 male patients who underwent unilateral ACLR using hamstring autograft or allograft 4 days before.

INTERVENTIONS: The patients were randomised to receive the knee KT treatment (n = 13) with lymphatic correction plus muscle (biceps/rectus femoris) facilitation or sham KT (n = 13) for 10 days. Additionally, the same ACLR rehabilitation program was applied to all the patients.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The baseline data included demographic and clinical characteristics, postoperative swelling, knee motion loss and knee pain, and bilateral strength of the knee and hip muscle groups except for rotator. Then, percent values of hip HSD and knee strength limb symmetry index (LSI) were calculated. The hip strength measurements in ACLR-operated leg were repeated on 5-10th days of KT.

RESULTS: Changes in all hip strength values over time were significant in both groups (p < 0.001). In inter-group analysis of 15th and 10th days, improvements in the flexor (only 10th day), extensor and adductor hip strength on operated leg were in favour of KT group (p < 0.05). Additionally, the postoperative thigh swelling and knee strength LSI values were correlated with the HSD outcomes in baseline data (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: ACLR-HSD can be caused by postoperative increased swelling and reduced knee strength. The KT treatment with lymphatic correction and muscle facilitation that can be used in treatment of postoperative hip muscle weakness after ACLR.