Effect of Kinesio Taping on Grasp and Release in Children with Spastic Hemiparetic Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study

Abstract
Background: Cerebral Palsy (CP) children have motor dysfunction due to non-progressive brain damage. Hemiplegic cerebral palsy children usually have marked hand involvement with limited active wrist extension and excessive thumb adduction and flexion which appears from infancy. Various techniques are generally used in the course of CP management. A recent method such as taping is frequently used in pediatrics rehabilitation clinics. It is easy to apply and inexpensive and can be easily removed or changed according to therapy objects. In CP it corrects postural misalignment enhance joint stability, activate weak muscle and manage spasticity.
Aim of Study: To determine the short term effect of kinesio taping on hand functions especially grasp and release in the children with spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsy.
Participants and Methods: Eleven spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsied children (2-7 years old) of both sexes with mild hand and/or wrist spasticity (grade 1 to 1+) according to the Modified Ashowrth Scale, and had impaired hand functions level II, III and IV according to Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) participated in this study. Participants received kinesio tape for wrist and thumb in addition to the standard conventional physical therapy program (2-3 hours per week). Participants were evaluated before and after four weeks using the Grasping subtests of the Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test (QUEST) and Peabody Devel-opmental Motor Scale (PDMS).
Results: After Four weeks of intervention results showed that no significant changes post treatment application when compared with corresponding pretreatment for the PDMS (p-value=0.096) and QUEST (p-value=0.052) scores.
Conclusion: These results suggested that four weeks Kinesio taping was not effective in improving the hand functions of spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsy children.