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Efficacy of Kinesiotape to Improve Upper-Extremity Function in Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy: A
Victoria Calvo-Fuente1, Concepción Soto-Vidal1, Ana Ramón-Corcoba2
1Neuromusculoskeletal Physical Therapy in Stages of Life Research Group (FINEMEV), Department of Nursing and Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad de Alcalá, Autovía A2, km 33.200, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Madrid, Spain.
Insights
Kinesiotape (KT) shows promise in improving upper-extremity (UE) function for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Studies indicate benefits in range of motion, fine motor skills, and grip strength, though more research is needed.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Pediatric Physical Therapy
- Neurology
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) is a leading cause of childhood physical disability, impacting posture and movement.
- Impaired upper-extremity (UE) function in CP leads to limitations in daily activities and participation.
- Kinesiotape (KT) is increasingly used in CP management for various therapeutic goals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the efficacy of kinesiotape (KT) for enhancing upper-extremity (UE) function in pediatric and adolescent populations with cerebral palsy (CP).
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted across major databases: PubMed, Cochrane, PEDro, Web of Science, and SCOPUS.
- Methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the PEDro scale.
- Data extraction and risk of bias assessment were performed using Review Manager (RevMan 5.4.1).
Main Results:
- Five randomized clinical trials were included in the review.
- Kinesiotape (KT) demonstrated improvements in UE functionality across three studies, notably in range of motion (ROM), fine motor skills, grip strength, and manual dexterity.
- Significant positive effects were also observed in spasticity and gross motor function in one study.
- The overall methodological quality was moderate, with a high risk of bias identified in blinding domains.
Conclusions:
- Kinesiotape (KT) application appears to enhance upper-extremity (UE) function in children and adolescents diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP).
- Further high-quality research is recommended to solidify the evidence base for KT's therapeutic effectiveness in this population.
Background:
Cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the primary causes of physical disabilities in children that affects posture and movement. Upper-extremity (UE) function is frequently impaired, which may result in activity and participation limitations in people with CP. The use of kinesiotape (KT) has increased in the treatment of CP for various purposes. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the efficacy of KT for improving UE function in children and adolescents with CP.
Methods:
The literature search was carried out in PubMed, Cochrane, PEDro, Web of Science and SCOPUS databases. The methodological quality was analyzed with the PEDro scale. Review Manager (RevMan 5.4.1) was used for data extraction and risk of bias assessment.
Results:
A total of five randomized clinical trials were included. The use of KT showed improvement in UE functionality in three studies, with significant outcomes for range of motion (ROM) (three studies), fine motor skills (two studies), grip strength (one study) and manual dexterity (one study). Moreover, it also showed significant improvements in spasticity and gross motor function (one study). Overall, methodological quality was moderate, and the risk of bias was high in the domains related to blinding.
Conclusion:
The use of KT showed improvement in UE function in children and adolescents with CP. However, further research is needed to reinforce the conclusions on the efficacy of KT as a therapeutic tool.
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