The impact of Kinesio taping technique on children with cerebral palsy

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Neurology

Background:

• Cerebral palsy (CP) is the leading cause of childhood movement disorders, resulting in lifelong disability and impairments.
• Children with CP often exhibit deficits in gross and fine motor function due to psychomotor disturbances.
• Early, individualized rehabilitation is crucial for managing CP.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the effects of Kinesio taping (KT) on enhancing motor skills in children diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP).
• To evaluate the efficacy of KT as a component of rehabilitation programs for pediatric CP patients.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted using keywords 'cerebral palsy,' 'Kinesio Tape,' 'KT,' and 'Taping.'
• Searches were performed in national and international electronic databases from 1999 to 2016.
• Twenty-one studies out of 43 retrieved articles met the inclusion criteria for analysis.

Main Results:

• Kinesio taping (KT) demonstrated a greater impact on improving gross and fine motor function and dynamic activities compared to static or postural activities.
• The effectiveness of KT was more pronounced in children with higher developmental and motor stages.
• Consistent findings indicate KT's benefit when integrated into multimodal therapy for CP rehabilitation.

Conclusions:

• Kinesio taping (KT) is a viable technique for improving motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP).
• KT is particularly effective for enhancing dynamic activities and benefits children at more advanced developmental stages.
• Integrating KT into comprehensive therapy programs can significantly aid in the rehabilitation of children with CP.