Effects of kinesiology taping on the upper-extremity function and activities of daily living in patients with hemiplegia.

[Purpose] This study determined the effects of kinesiology taping on the upper-extremity function and activities of daily living of patients with hemiplegia. [Subjects] The experimental group and control group comprised 15 hemiplegia patients each. [Methods] This study was performed from June 4 to December 22, 2012, involving 30 hemiplegia patients. The experimental and controls groups performed task practices for 30 minutes, 3 times per week for 28 weeks with and without taping, respectively.
[Results] After treatment, there were significant differences in every outcome measures within each group except for the Brunnstrom recovery stage of the hand. However, there was a significant difference in functional independence movements between the groups.
[Conclusion] Task practice has the same effectiveness regardless of the taping of the upper extremities. Nevertheless, taping is helpful for improving both the functions and activities of daily living in patients with hemiplegia.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes

INTRODUCTION

Lack of functional ability in the upper extremities after stroke restricts usage, and causes asymmetric posture and contracture in daily life, thus exacerbating functional limitations of the upper limbs1). The functional recovery period of the upper limbs in patients with hemiplegia is estimated to be 11 weeks after stroke. However, if there is no functional improvement with intensive treatment in this period, it is difficult to expect better prognosis or improvement2). Previous studies demonstrate that applying kinesiology tape in the same direction as the muscle fibers facilitates muscle function3), while perpendicular application inhibits muscle function4). Moreover, the underlying mechanism of the effect of therapeutic taping remains controversial. However, there is no report on the influence of taping with respect to a neurophysiologic background. Thus, additional in-depth quantitative studies about the effects of taping on balance, gait, injury prevention, strength, range of motion, and proprioception are required to confirm its clinical efficacy. Therefore, this study determined the effects of kinesiology taping on upper-extremity function and activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with hemiplegia. This study involved an alternative medicine intervention in order to demonstrate whether taping improves movement dysfunction after stroke. Thus, the results will provide fundamental data for the application of this technique in clinical practice.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

This study was conducted from June 4 to December 22, 2012 on 30 post-stroke patients who were hospitalized in a rehabilitation hospital in Chungcheong province, South Korea. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. The patients in the experimental group (EG, n = 15) and control group (CG, n = 15) performed task practice with and without 3NS kinesiology taping, respectively. The inclusion criteria were as follows: post-stroke hemiplegia, at least 6 months since onset, and ability to communicate and understand instructions. Meanwhile, patients with peripheral neuropathy, musculoskeletal disease, or dementia were excluded. All patients provided written informed consent to participate in the study prior to its commencement. This study followed the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The intervention was performed for 30 minutes, 3 times per week for 28 weeks for a total of 84 sessions. Patients rested 2 minutes between each practice. The patients practiced tasks as per the researcher’s instructions, while sitting on a comfortable chair. The task practices included wiping a table with a towel, putting a block into a box, and stacking cups.

The taping was applied as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 1.

Taping of the deltoid muscle

Fig. 2.

Taping of the quadratus lumborum muscle

For the anterior aspect of the middle deltoid, the patient extended their arm and performed slight external rotation; then, the therapist placed the tape on the region from the humerus prominence to the coracoid process. For the posterior aspect of the middle deltoid, the patient placed the affected side of the hand on the opposite side of the acromion process, and the tape was placed on the region from the humerus prominence to the lateral third of the scapular spine. For the lateral portion of the quadratus lumborum, the tape was applied from the posterior superior iliac spine to the 12th rib while the trunk was bent laterally to the unaffected side. For the medial portion of the quadratus lumborum, the tape was placed from the posterior superior iliac spine along the transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae while the trunk was bent forward. Upper-extremity function and ADL were assessed by using the manual function test (MFT)5), modified motor assessment scale (MMAS)6), Brunnstrom recovery stage7), and functional independence measure (FIM)8).

All data were analyzed by using SPSS version 18 (SPSS lnc., Chicago, lL, USA). The χ2 test was used to analyze the general characteristics of the patients. Because the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test indicated the data were not normallydistributed, the Wilcoxon signed-ranked test and Mann-Whitney U-test were used to determine intra- and intergroup differences, respectively. All data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). The α level was set at = 0.05, and the level of significance was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

The EG comprised 8 women and 7; 8 and 7 patients had right and left hemiplegia, respectively. Meanwhile, the CG comprised 9 women and 6 men; similar to the EG, 8 and 7 patients had right and left hemiplegia, respectively. The mean ages of the EG and CG were 69.20 ± 7.07 and 67.33 ± 9.50 years respectively. There were no significant differences in the general characteristics between groups. However, the MFT and MMAS results differed significantly after the intervention in both groups (EG: 22.47 ± 6.55 and, 13.87 ± 5.06; CG: 21.33 ± 6.23 and, 13.80 ± 5.25, respectively). However, there were no significant differences between groups pre- or post-intervention. There was no significant change in the Brunnstrom recovery stage of the hand after the intervention in either group, but the meanof post-intervention score tended to be higher in the EG. However, post-intervention, the FIM changed significantly within each group and differed significantly between groups (Table 1).

Table 1.

Changes in upper-limb function and activities of daily living (N = 30)

	MFT		MMAS		BRSH		FIM
	Pre	Post	Pre	Post	Pre	Post	Pre	Post
EG (n = 15)	16.40 ± 5.85	22.47 ± 6.55a	9.87 ± 4.37	13.87 ± 5.06a	5.13 ± 1.30	5.27 ± 1.33	83.73 ± 16.03	90.53 ± 16.65a
CG (n = 15)	19.80 ± 6.05	21.33 ± 6.23a	12.60 ± 5.19	13.80 ± 5.25a	5.40 ± 1.24	5.40 ± 1.24	77.13 ± 16.66	78.40 ± 16.62a,b

ap < 0.01 within a group, bp < 0.05 between groups. EG: experimental group; CG: control group, MFT: manual functional test; MMAS: manual motor assessment scale; BRSH: brunnstrom recovery stage of the hand; FIM: functional impairment movement

DISCUSSION

A previous study evaluating the effects of kinesiology taping indicates that applying tape to the affected upper limbs of post-stroke patients reduces spasms, resulting in improved range of motion, strength, and function9). Another study reports that muscle recruitment patterns can be altered because of better proprioception by stimulating mechanoreceptors10). In the present study, both groups showed significant improvements in the MFT and MMAS results. This indicates that task practice positively influenced upper-extremity function, regardless of taping. However, an additional benefit was observed in the EG. This suggests that applying tape can improve the restricted coordinated movement of joints in the upper extremities because of dysfunction of normal movement reflex, diminished coordination, and integration of motor control and disconnection between the muscles in the upper extremities and trunk; this results in improved upper-limb movement. Because ADL involve interactions among several elements such as joints, muscles, sensory inputs, and nerves, the assessment of ADL is crucial to determine the condition of patients with a brain injury11). In the present study, post-intervention, both groups showed significant improvements in the FIM. However, there was a significant difference post-intervention between the groups. This indicates that applying tape to the shoulder and lumbar region improves postural control and shoulder girdle stability. In other words, mobility improved because of better stability. However, there was no significant difference in the Brunnstrom recovery stage of the hand either within each group or between the groups. This demonstrates that taping does not affect the control of muscle tone or coordination in the distal part of the upper extremities. Furthermore, limited ability in manipulation did not improve prior to the recovery of the movement and stability in the proximal part of the upper limbs. Even if patients with hemiplegia can reach with their arm to grasp an object, they cannot do so because of an inability to manipulate the object using their hands. Thus, they have more restrictions for using the affected upper limb and will therefore have fewer opportunities to use it12). This may be why patients with hemiplegia use support for their disabled hand or are unable to use it at all. Consequently, such patients experience many life difficulties after their stroke, because the functions of the upper limbs and hands are vital for ADL. Future studies should perform surface electromyography to verify that muscles affected by taping regain strength after the intervention.