Effects of short-term compression in people with knee osteoarthritis: A sham-controlled randomised trial

Objective To evaluate the effects of knee compression using elastic bandages on pain intensity and physical function in individuals with knee osteoarthritis in the short term. Design Three-arm, randomised controlled trial. Setting Individuals with knee osteoarthritis received compression, sham compression, or no bandaging. Main measures Ninety participants were assessed at baseline (Day 1), Day 6 after intervention, and 12 and 24 weeks post-intervention. The primary outcomes were pain intensity assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale and the pain subscale of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index. Secondary outcomes included the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, physical function tests, and global rating of change. Interventions The experimental group received knee compression with elastic bandages for 20 min per day over four consecutive days; sham group used elastic bandages without compression; and the control group received no bandaging. Results No between-group differences reached the minimal clinically important difference for pain measured by the Visual Analogue Scale or Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index pain subscale at any follow-up. Likewise, not clinically important between-group differences were found for Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index or physical function tests. On Day 6, global rating of change favored the experimental versus sham group (−1.5; 95% confidence interval −2.6 to −0.3) and the sham versus control group (−1.4; 95% confidence interval −2.5 to −0.3). Conclusion Knee compression using elastic bandages was not superior to sham or control conditions in reducing pain or improving physical function in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. Level of evidence 1b. Trial registration: NCT04724902