The Effect of Kinesiologic Taping on Hand Function in Children With Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Objective: To research the effect of kinesiologic taping (KT), applied to the wrist dorsiflexor muscle group using a facilitating (muscle strengthening) technique, on the hand function of children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP) at its early stages and independent of exercise.Methods: The study tests 20 patients who have been diagnosed with unilateral CP. KT, was applied to the plegic aspect of the dorsiflexor muscle group on the wrists and fingers of all subjects. Patients were evaluated in terms of age, gender, dominant hand. Hand function was evaluated by the Jebsen Hand Function Test (JHFT). The hand function of the patients was evaluated at three time points: before the KT; immediately after the application with KT in situ; and immediately after the KT was removed.Results: The assessment of the patients' ability to perform activities such as turning pages, carrying small objects, eating simultaneously, stacking backgammon pieces on top of each other, moving light-large objects and heavy-large objects, before the KT and after the KT was applied showed a significant stastistical difference (p<0.05 for all parameters). The results of the patients before the KT was applied and after it was removed did not show a statistical significant difference (p>0.05 for all parameters).Conclusion: It is thought that the application of KT to the wrist dorsiflexor and finger extensor muscle groups of children with unilateral CP contributes to the improvement of hand functions. There is a need for long term follow-up studies to see the long-term effect the KT.