Kinesiology taping Vs conventional physiotherapy in improving neuromuscular and gait outcomes in ambulatory children with spastic cerebral palsy: A randomized controlled trial.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51168/s5vwha74Keywords:
cerebral palsy, kinesiology taping, Neuromuscular function, Gait performance, RehabilitationAbstract
Background:
Neuromuscular impairments and gait dysfunction are common in children with spastic cerebral palsy and significantly affect functional mobility. Kinesiology taping has been proposed as an adjunct intervention to enhance neuromuscular performance.
Objective:
To compare the effects of kinesiology taping and conventional physiotherapy on neuromuscular function and gait performance in ambulatory children with spastic cerebral palsy.
Methods:
This randomized controlled trial included 85 ambulatory children with spastic cerebral palsy aged 3–12 years (GMFCS I–III). Participants were assigned to kinesiology taping (44) or conventional physiotherapy (41) groups. Interventions were administered 3 times weekly for 12 weeks.
Results:
Out of the 85 total participants, 47 were male, while 38 were female. The mean age of the participants in the KT and conventional PT groups was 7.89 ± 2.77 years and 7.71 ± 2.70 years, respectively, with a mean weight of 26.11 ±7.07kg and 25.50 ± 6.76kg, respectively. There was no significant difference in the physical characteristics of participants between the two groups at baseline (p>0.05). The KT group showed significant improvements in neuromuscular function (p = 0.001) and gait performance (p =0.001) over the intervention period. The conventional physiotherapy group showed significant improvement in gait performance (p =0.001) but not in neuromuscular function (p = 0.151). Between-group comparisons revealed no statistically significant differences at baseline, 6 weeks, or 12 weeks for both PNRS and EVGS (p > 0.05).
Conclusion:
Kinesiology taping improves both neuromuscular function and gait performance in ambulatory children with spastic cerebral palsy after 12 weeks of intervention, but does not demonstrate clear superiority over conventional physiotherapy.
Recommendation:
Clinicians should incorporate kinesiology taping into the rehabilitation of ambulatory children with spastic cerebral palsy, as an alternative to conventional physiotherapy, particularly for improving neuromuscular function and gait performance.
References
1. Novak I, Morgan C, Adde L, Blackman J, Boyd RN, Brunstrom-Hernandez J, et al. Early, accurate diagnosis and early intervention in cerebral palsy: advances in diagnosis and treatment. JAMA Pediatr. 2017;171(9):897-907. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.1689
2. Oskoui M, Coutinho F, Dykeman J, Jetté N, Pringsheim T. An update on the prevalence of cerebral palsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2013;55(6):509-519. https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.12080
3. Rosenbaum P, Paneth N, Leviton A, Goldstein M, Bax M, Damiano D, et al. A report: the definition and classification of cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol Suppl. 2007;109:8-14.
4. Graham HK, Rosenbaum P, Paneth N, Dan B, Lin JP, Damiano DL, et al. Cerebral palsy. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2016;2:15082. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrdp.2015.82
5. Gage JR, Schwartz MH, Koop SE, Novacheck TF. The identification and treatment of gait problems in cerebral palsy. London: Mac Keith Press; 2009.
6. Galli M, Cimolin V, Crivellini M. Quantitative gait analysis in cerebral palsy: a review. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2021;63(2):121-128.
7. Damiano DL, Abel MF. Functional outcomes of strength training in spastic cerebral palsy. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1998;79(2):119-125. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-9993(98)90287-8
8. Verschuren O, Peterson MD, Balemans ACJ, Hurvitz EA. Exercise and physical activity recommendations for people with cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2016;58(8):798-808. https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.13053
9. Dewar R, Love S, Johnston LM. Exercise interventions improve postural control in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2015;12:5. https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.12660
10. Kase K, Wallis J, Kase T. Clinical therapeutic applications of the kinesio taping method. Tokyo: Ken Ikai Co Ltd; 2003.
11. Morris D, Jones D, Ryan H, Ryan CG. The clinical effects of kinesio tex taping: a systematic review. Phys Ther Sport. 2013;14(1):47-52. https://doi.org/10.3109/09593985.2012.731675
12. Lim ECW, Tay MGX. Kinesio taping in musculoskeletal pain and disability: a systematic review. Clin J Sport Med. 2015;25(2):123-132.
13. Williams S, Whatman C, Hume PA, Sheerin K. Kinesio taping in treatment and prevention of sports injuries: a meta-analysis. Sports Med. 2012;42(2):153-164. https://doi.org/10.2165/11594960-000000000-00000
14. Parreira PCS, Costa LCM, Hespanhol Junior LC, Lopes AD, Costa LO. Current evidence does not support the use of kinesio taping in clinical practice: a systematic review. J Physiother. 2014;60(1):31-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphys.2013.12.008
15. Csapo R, Alegre LM. Effects of kinesio taping on skeletal muscle strength: a meta-analysis. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2015;115(3):459-469.
16. Johnston LM, Sherrington C, et al. Exercise interventions for children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2020;17:64.
17. Saquetto MB, Carvalho V, Silva CM, et al. Effects of vibration training on muscle strength and functional capacity: systematic review. Clin Rehabil. 2020;34(3):293-310.
18. Zhou J, Butler EE, Rose J. Neuromuscular responses to vibration training in children with cerebral palsy. Clin Rehabil. 2022;36(1):38-49.
19. McGinley JL, Dobson F, Ganeshalingam R, et al. Single-event multilevel surgery for children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2012;54(2):117-128. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8749.2011.04143.x
20. Rodda J, Graham HK. Classification of gait patterns in spastic cerebral palsy. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2001;83(1):98-102. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1468-1331.2001.00042.x
21. Wren TAL, Rethlefsen SA, Kay RM. Prevalence of specific gait abnormalities in children with cerebral palsy. J Pediatr Orthop. 2005;25(1):79-83. https://doi.org/10.1097/01241398-200501000-00018
22. Read HS, Hazlewood ME, Hillman SJ, Prescott RJ, Robb JE. Edinburgh Visual Gait Score for use in cerebral palsy. Gait Posture. 2003;17(2):135-149. https://doi.org/10.1097/01241398-200305000-00005
23. Graham HK, Harvey A, Rodda J, Nattrass GR, Pirpiris M. The functional mobility scale. J Pediatr Orthop. 2004;24(5):514-520. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004694-200409000-00011
24. Alashram AR, Annino G, Padua E, et al. Effects of kinesio taping on motor function in neurological populations: a systematic review. NeuroRehabilitation. 2022;50(1):123-132.
25. Khanna T, et al. Effectiveness of kinesiology taping in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review. Disabil Rehabil. 2023;45(7):1123-1131.
26. Cai Y, et al. Rehabilitation interventions for gait improvement in cerebral palsy: a systematic review. Front Neurol. 2023;14:112233.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. B.I.A Akinola, Prof. C.A.O Gbiri, Prof D.O Odebiyi (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
