1.    Introduction
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders, characterized by degenerative changes in synovial joints, often accompanied by the formation of new bone tissue (1). It negatively impacts quality of life, reducing the ability to work, perform recreational activities, and complete daily tasks, while also causing significant economic and social consequences (2). Among all affected joints, the knee experiences the highest level of disability and clinical symptoms, making knee osteoarthritis a major global health issue (3). The knee joint plays a critical role in absorbing force and maintaining balance during walking; therefore, knee osteoarthritis is one of the leading causes of disability, pain, and movement limitations, particularly in middle-aged women (3). Several studies have examined the effect of patella taping on pain and disability in individuals with knee osteoarthritis, with conflicting results (15, 16). For example, Taheri et al. (2017) found that taping positively impacted pain relief and motor function in people with knee osteoarthritis (17). In a more recent study, Al-Kadi et al. (2023) compared the effects of taping and bracing on balance and gait parameters in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. Their findings revealed that taping had a greater effect than bracing on balance and gait parameters in these individuals (18). Given the inconsistent findings on the effects of taping on symptoms, proprioception, and balance in individuals with knee osteoarthritis, the present study aims to evaluate the impact of patella taping on these outcomes in women with knee osteoarthritis. The goal is to determine whether taping improves function, proprioception, and balance in this population.
2.    Methods
The current research method is applied in terms of purpose and semi-experimental in terms of design. The statistical population consisted of women aged 30 to 50 years in Tehran. Using inclusion criteria and convenience sampling, 30 women with knee osteoarthritis who visited an orthopedic clinic in Tehran were selected as the study sample. The sample size was determined based on previous similar studies (19) and G*Power software. A sample size for each group was calculated with a 95% confidence level and 80% test power. To account for the possibility of a 10% dropout rate, the sample size in each group was slightly increased beyond the minimum calculated by the software. The effect size related to the pain index was used to estimate the sample size. Based on the GPower software results, 30 participants were selected and randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=15) or the control group (n=15). All patients received confirmation of their osteoarthritis diagnosis from a specialist, and radiographs of their knee osteoarthritis were evaluated from both anterior and posterior views by an orthopedic specialist. The WOMAC questionnaire was used to assess participants' functional performance. This questionnaire consists of 3 sections and 24 items. The first section evaluates pain during various activities, the second section assesses the degree of joint stiffness, and the third section measures functional limitations in daily activities. Each section was rated on a numerical scale ranging from 0 to 100 (21). Knee joint proprioception was measured in an open kinetic chain using a goniometer. Static balance was assessed using a single-leg stance test, and dynamic balance was measured with the Timed Up & Go test. Taping was applied while the participant was lying down with the knee in full extension to avoid quadriceps contraction. The tape was applied starting from the external condyle of the femur. Initially, the tape was placed on the external femoral condyle without tension, then stretched across the patella to cause medial displacement, with the other end secured on the medial and posterior side of the knee. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to assess the normality of the data distribution. A paired-sample t-test was used for within-group comparisons, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was applied for between-group comparisons. All data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, with a significance level set at 0.05.
3.    Results
The results of the dependent t-test indicate that patella taping significantly reduced pain intensity, joint stiffness, and improved performance. Additionally, the findings demonstrate that taping had a significant effect on static balance, dynamic balance, and knee joint proprioception. Moreover, the results of the covariance analysis revealed a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the post-test regarding pain intensity, joint stiffness, performance, static balance, dynamic balance, and knee joint proprioception. The data further indicate significant differences in pain intensity, joint stiffness, performance, static balance, and dynamic balance between the group means during the post-test phase. Table 1 presents the results of the covariance analysis, illustrating the effect of patella taping on the studied variables.

4.    Conclusion
The aim of this study was to examine the effect of six weeks of patella taping on function, proprioception, and balance in women with knee osteoarthritis. The results demonstrated that patella taping significantly reduced pain and joint stiffness, while increasing function, balance, and proprioception in these women. The improvement in balance and motor performance observed in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome may be attributed to the taping’s influence on systems related to balance and pain reduction. Additionally, musculoskeletal coordination and the ability to generate adequate muscle force are crucial for maintaining balance (37). Muscles must be activated at the right time, in the correct location, and with sufficient intensity to produce motor responses that preserve balance (38). Therefore, another potential reason for the observed improvements in balance and function among patients with knee osteoarthritis could be the enhancement of muscle function.
Ethical Considerations
Compliance with ethical guidelines
There were no ethical considerations to be addressed in this research.
Funding
This research did not receive any financial support from government, private, or non-profit organizations.
Authors' contributions
All authors contributed equally to preparing the article.
Conflicts of interest
The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest associated with this article.