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Kinesio arm taping as prophylaxis against the development of Erb's Engram
Radwa S ElKhatib1, Emam H ElNegmy1, Amina H Salem2
1Department of Physical Therapy for Pediatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt.
Insights
Kinesiotaping on the deltoid and forearm improved upper extremity function in children with Erb's palsy. This adjunct therapy, combined with physical therapy, showed significant benefits in muscle function and recovery.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Neurology
Background:
- Erb's palsy is a common condition affecting newborns, leading to upper extremity dysfunction.
- Developing an "Erb's Engram" is a frequent challenge for children recovering from Erb's palsy.
- Effective therapeutic interventions are crucial for optimizing functional recovery in affected children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of kinesiotaping on the deltoid and forearm muscles.
- To determine the impact of kinesiotaping as an adjunct to physical therapy for Erb's palsy.
- To assess improvements in upper extremity function in children with Erb's palsy.
Main Methods:
- A 3-month study involving 30 pediatric patients diagnosed with Erb's palsy.
- Participants were divided into two groups: a control group (physical therapy only) and a study group (physical therapy plus kinesiotaping).
- Functional outcomes were assessed using the Toronto Active Motion Scale, and muscle degeneration was measured via EMG analysis.
Main Results:
- The study group receiving kinesiotaping demonstrated significant improvements in six out of nine measured variables compared to the control group.
- Objective EMG data indicated reduced degeneration percentages in the deltoid and biceps muscles for the kinesiotaping group.
- Functional scoring revealed superior outcomes in the group that incorporated kinesiotaping into their rehabilitation program.
Conclusions:
- Kinesiotaping applied to the deltoid and forearm muscles is a beneficial adjunct therapy for children with Erb's palsy.
- This method significantly enhances upper extremity function and muscle recovery.
- The findings support the integration of kinesiotaping into standard rehabilitation protocols for Erb's palsy.
Abstract:
An Erb's Engram is a common debility that develops in recovering children with Erb's palsy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of kinesiotaping over the deltoid and the forearm on the development of proper upper extremity function in children recovering from Erb's palsy. Thirty patients with Erb's palsy participated for 3 months in this study and were equally divided into two groups; control group A and study group B. The two groups received the same designed physical therapy program, while group B along the program, received kinesiotaping over the deltoid and the forearm. The subjects were evaluated, pre and post-treatment, and scored functionally, using the Toronto Active Motion Scale, and objectively, using an EMG device utilized to obtain the percentages of degeneration of the deltoid and the biceps muscles. Post-treatment values of six out of nine measured variables, between the two groups, revealed significant difference in favor of group B. The obtained results strongly support the introduction of kinesiotaping of the deltoid and the forearm as an adjunct to the treatment program of Erb's palsied children.
