The effects of Kinesio Taping on body functions and activity in unilateral spastic cerebral palsy: a single-blind randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Kinesio Taping (KT) on the body functions and activity of children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP).

Method: This study was designed as a single-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Thirty children with unilateral spastic CP were randomized and split equally between the KT group (eight males, seven females; mean age 9y [SD 2y 3mo] range 7-12y) and the control group (seven males, eight females; mean age 9y 7mo [SD 3y 4mo] range 7-14y) receiving usual care. All participants were evaluated with the Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM), the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP), the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), short-term muscle power, agility and functional muscle strength tests. Wilcoxon signed-rank and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to evaluate within and between-group differences respectively. The level of significance was accepted as p<0.05.

Results: There were significant differences in muscle power sprint (p=0.003), lateral step-up test right (p=0.016), sit to stand (p=0.018), attain stand through half knee right (p=0.003), BOTMP Gross scores (p=0.019), and WeeFIM total (p=0.003) and self-care scores (p=0.022) between the groups (p<0.05).

Interpretation: Kinesio Taping is a promising additional approach to increase proprioceptive feedback and improve physical fitness, gross motor function, and activities of daily living in children with CP.