Effects of Facilitatory and Inhibitory Kinesio Taping on Gait Pattern and Balance in Children with Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 MSc Student, Department of Health and Rehabilitation in Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Health and Rehabilitation in Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.

10.22038/mjms.2024.25811

Abstract

Introduction: The present study aimed to compare the immediate effects of facilitatory and inhibitory Kinesio taping on gait pattern and balance in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.
Method: The research method was quasi-experimental with a pre-test and post-test control group design. Thirty-four children with cerebral palsy were randomly assigned to blocks and included in the study. Gait pattern was assessed using KI NOVEA software, and balance was assessed using the Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance.
Results: The results showed that both facilitatory and inhibitory Kinesio taping interventions were effective in improving gait pattern and balance in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (P≤0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the use of inhibitory Kinesio taping compared to facilitatory Kinesio taping (P>0.05).
Conclusion: The present results showed that facilitatory and inhibitory Kinesio taping can be effective on gait pattern and balance. Therefore, it is suggested to use facilitatory and inhibitory Kinesio taping to improve gait pattern and balance in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.

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