Effects of routine physical therapy with and without kinesio taping in improving gross motor function in sitting and standing in spastic diplegic cerebral palsy children

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of Kinesio taping along with routine physical therapy on improving gross motor function in sitting and standing among spastic diplegic Cerebral Palsy children.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Settings: University Teaching Hospital University of Lahore, Lahore.

Participants: 53 participants with diagnosed spastic diplegic cerebral palsy were randomly allocated in control and experimental groups.

Intervention: 26 Participants were treated by kinesio taping which was applied in a criss-cross manner along with routine physical therapy program while the control group (n = 27) received NDT exercise program that comprises of stretching, functional reaching, weight-bearing exercises and walking.

Outcome measure: Gross motor function was assessed using 2 components of Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS-88), i.e., sitting as well as standing at the base line and after every 3rd week for 12 weeks follow up.

Results: In study and control group the mean score of gross motor function for sitting at baseline was 33.96 ± 3.11 and 31.50 ± 3.32 respectively. After intervention, it changed to 47.70 ± 5.46 and 43.46 ± 1.81 respectively. Mean score for Gross Motor Function calculated at base line in study and control group for standing was 27.37 ± 1.14 and 26 ± 3.01 respectively. At the end of intervention, the score improved to 36.55 ± 4.27 and 33.69 ± 2.46 respectively.

Conclusion: In comparison to control group, significant increase in gross motor function of intervention group was seen after the 12 weeks of intervention. In this way, over back muscles the application of kinesio tape in a Criss-Cross manner may be helpful. Also it can be used as an additional approach along with routine physical therapy to improve standing and sitting in spastic diplegic children.

Keywords: Cerebral palsy; Gross motor function scale; Kinesio taping; Neurodevelopmental therapy; Sitting balance; Standing balance.