Kinesiology tape will be applied to the knee joint.

Non-therapeutic sham taping will be applied to the knee joint

The taping will be applied to the knee joint for 4 weeks.

A Visual Analog scale(VAS) was used to assess pain intensity. Participants were asked to rate their perceived pain on a 10-cm horizontal line, where 0 cm indicates "no pain" and 10 cm indicates "worst pain imaginable." The participants marked a point on the line that best represented their pain intensity at rest and during activity. The distance (in centimeters) from the "no pain" end to the participant's mark was measured and recorded as the VAS score.

Kinesiophobia was assessed using the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), a self-report questionnaire designed to measure fear of movement or re-injury. The scale consists of 17 items, each rated on a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 1 ("strongly disagree") to 4 ("strongly agree"). Higher scores indicate a greater degree of kinesiophobia, with a total score range between 17 and 68 points.

Functional mobility was assessed using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, a simple and reliable measure of dynamic balance and mobility. Participants were instructed to rise from a standard chair, walk three meters, turn around, walk back, and sit down at their normal walking speed. The time taken to complete the task was measured in seconds using a stopwatch. Shorter completion times indicate better functional mobility.

Disease activity was evaluated using the Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS28), which incorporates the number of tender and swollen joints (out of 28), the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and the patient's global health assessment (GH) on a 100-mm Visual Analog Scale. The DAS28 score was calculated according to the standard formula, with values below 2.6 indicating remission, 2.6-3.2 low disease activity, 3.2-5.1 moderate activity, and above 5.1 high disease activity. This index is widely used to monitor disease progression and treatment response in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.