Participants underwent 3 exercise sessions for 60 minutes each. Exercise program was created to improve range of motion and muscle strength. Participants executed active exercise in lying, sitting, and standing positions, isometric exercise, exercise with resistance band. All exercises were repeated 12 times in 3 sets and depending on the capacity of the subject. Breaks between sets 10 sec.

Participants underwent 3 exercise sessions for 60 minutes each. Exercise program was created to improve range of motion and muscle strength. Participants executed active exercise in lying, sitting, and standing positions, isometric exercise, exercise with resistance band. All exercises were repeated 12 times in 3 sets and depending on the capacity of the subject. Breaks between sets 10 sec.

Participants underwent 3 exercise sessions for 60 minutes each. Exercise program was created to improve range of motion and muscle strength. Participants executed active exercise in lying, sitting, and standing positions, isometric exercise, exercise with resistance band. All exercises were repeated 12 times in 3 sets, 10 s breaks between sets.

Additionally, they received kinesio taping application for 7 days. Blue color kinesio tape (manufactured by "Theraband®", USA) was used. Kinesio taping was done by experienced physiotherapist with 5 years of experience. Two Y shape bands were applied for lymphatic taping and to improve anterior upper leg muscle function (lymphatic correction and muscle correction techniques were integrated together).

Then two I shape bands (75-100% tension) were applied above the patella tendon and medial/lateral collateral ligaments in order to improve mechanoreceptor stimulation, proprioception and knee stability.

was evaluated using the Visual Analogue Pain Scale (VAS). Participants were asked to report "current" pain intensity. A higher score indicates greater pain intensity: no pain (0-4 mm), mild pain (5-44 mm), moderate pain (45-74 mm), and severe pain (75- 100 mm).

A goniometer was used to measure the flexion and extension of the knee joint. The initial position of the subject is prone lying, the axis of goniometer is placed on the lateral femoral epicondyle. The stationary part of goniometer is placed along the lateral midline of the thigh, the reference point being the greater trochanter of femur. The moving part of goniometer is placed along the midline of the lower leg, the reference point being the lateral ankle.

Manual muscle strength testing. The strength of knee flexion and extension was evaluated (Cuthbert, & Goodheart, 2007). The classic 5-point manual muscle strength assessment system is used to determine muscle strength. If for some reason participant could not perform the full range of motion, then the muscle strength test is performed at the possible amplitude.

A 10-meter straight line was marked in the start and finish points. The subject had to stand 2 meters in front of the start line, after the signal participant was told to walk at his/her own speed until he/she was 2 meters behind the finish line. The timer was turned on when the patient crossed the start line and stopped when he/she crossed the finish line. The test was performed 5 times and the average calculated. Time was recorded in seconds and converted to meters per second (Master et al., 2021).