Background and aims: Conservative rehabilitation methods are assumed as a fundamental part of treatment in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). This study was aimed to investigate the influence of Kinesio Taping® (KT®) and low level laser therapy (LT) on pain intensity, function, and knee joint position sense (JPS) in such patients.

Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 26 male patients (Mean ± SD of age: 48.5 ± 4.6 years) with unilateral knee OA were randomly divided into two groups of KT® (N=13) and LT (N=13). Both groups followed their own specific therapeutic protocol in addition to routine physiotherapy program for 10 sessions. The outcome measurements included pain intensity, function, and knee JPS; which were evaluated using visual analogue scale, Up and Go test, and reproduction of target angle at baseline and after completing the interventions; respectively.

Results: Both methods can significantly improve pain intensity, reduce the time to perform Up and Go test, and reduce the angle reproduction error of 60º knee flexion (P<0.001). Mean difference for target angle reproduction error was more significant in KT group compared to LT group (P<0.001); while no significant mean difference was found for other measurements (P>0.05).

Conclusion: KT® and low level laser can improve pain, knee JPS, and function in patients suffered from knee OA. However, the effect of KT® on knee JPS is more than laser therapy.