Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of application of Kinesiotape over the thigh muscles in improving mobility capacity of children with cerebral palsy.

Objective: To find out the effect of kinesiotaping over the thigh muscular along with conventional occupational therapy in improving strengthen of muscles and to improve mobility capacity of children with cerebral palsy.

Study Design: Pre Test and Post Test experimental study design.

Method: Sixty children with cerebral palsy who were fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected by convenient sampling from Occupational Therapy unit of Sir Sunderlal Hospital, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. A written informed consent and ethical permission was obtained. Hand-held dynamometer was used for measuring the strength of knee flexors and extensor.1-min walk test, 10-m walk Test, lateral-step-up and timed-stair test was used as instrument for measuring improvement in mobility capacity of these children. Therapy for both the groups was given for 1 hour per session. In the experimental group along with conventional occupational therapy, kinesiotape (KT) was applied over the knee flexor and extensor muscles.

Results: After the intervention, there was more improvement in experimental group as compared to the control in mobility capacity of children with cerebral palsy.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that application of kinesiotape along with conventional occupational therapy can be used to enhance & improve strengthen of knee flexors and extensors in children with cerebral palsy.

Keywords: Kinesiotape, cerebral palsy, strengthening, dynamometer.

1. Brown JK, Rodda J, Walsh EG, Wright GW (1991) Neurophysiology of lower-limb function in hemiplegic children. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 33:1037–1047.
2. Damiano DL, Abel MF (1998) Functional outcomes of strength training in spastic cerebral palsy. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 79: 119–125.
3. Wiley ME, Damiano DL (1998) Lower-extremity strength profiles in spastic cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 40: 100–107.
4. Elder GC, Kirk J, Stewart G, Cook K, Weir D, Marshall A,Leahey L (2003) Contributing factors to muscle weakness in children with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 45: 542–550.
5. Rose J, McGill KC (2005). Neuromuscular activation and motor unit firing characteristics in cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 47: 329–336
6. Stackhouse SK, Binder-Macleod SA, Lee SC (2005) Voluntary muscle activation, contractile properties, and fatigability in children with and without cerebral palsy. Muscle and Nerve 31: 594–601.
7. Wiley ME, Damiano DL (1998) Lower-extremity strength profiles in spastic cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 40: 100–107.
8. Friden J, Lieber RL (2003) Spastic muscle cells are shorter and stiffer than normal cells. Muscle and Nerve 27: 157–164.
9. Lieber RL, Steinman S, Barash IA, Chambers H (2004).Structural and functional changes in spastic skeletal muscle.Muscle and Nerve 29: 615–627.
10. Rose J, Haskell WL, Gamble JG, Hamilton RL, Brown DA, Rinsky L (1994) Muscle pathology and clinical measures of disability in children with cerebral palsy. Journal of Orthopaedic Research 12: 758–768.
11. Ross SA, Engsberg JR (2007) Relationships between spasticity, strength, gait, and the GMFM–66 in persons with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 88: 1114–1120.
12. Bax L, Yu LM, Ikeda N, Tsuruta H, Moons KG (2006)Development and validation of MIX: comprehensive free software for meta-analysis of causal research data. BMC Medical Research Methodology 6: 50
13. Damiano DL, Abel MF (1998) Functional outcomes of strength training in spastic cerebral palsy. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 79: 119–125.
14. Eagleton M, Iams A, McDowell J, Morrison R, Evans CL (2004)The effects of strength training on gait in adolescents with cerebral palsy. Pediatric Physical Therapy 16: 22–30.
15. MacPhail HE, Kramer JF (1995) Effect of isokinetic strength training on functional ability and walking efficiency in adolescents with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology 37: 763–775.
16. Morton JF, Brownlee M, McFadyen AK (2005) The effects of progressive resistance training for children with cerebral palsy. Clinical Rehabilitation 19: 283–289.
17. Dodd KJ, Taylor NF, Graham HK (2003) A randomized clinical trial of strength training in young people with cerebral palsy.Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 45: 652–657.
18. Liao HF, Liu YC, Liu WY, Lin YT (2007) Effectiveness of loaded sit-to-stand resistance exercise for children with mild spasticdiplegia: a randomized clinical trial. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 88: 25–31.
19. Mockford M, Caulton JM (2008) Systematic review of progressive strength training in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy who are ambulatory. Pediatric Physical Therapy 20: 318–333.
20. Ada L, Dorsch S, Canning CG (2006) Strengthening interventions increase strength and improve activity after stroke: a systematic review. Australian Journal of Physiotherapy 52: 241–248.
21. Kase K, Hashimoto T, Okane T (1996) Kinesio taping perfect manual: Amazing taping therapy to eliminate pain and muscle disorders. Albuquerque, NM: KMS, LLC.
22. Kase K, Martin P, Yasukawa A (2006). Kinesiotaping in pediatrics.Fundamentals and whole body taping. Kinesio Taping Association, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA; 9-30.
23. Iosa M , Morelli D , Nanni M V et al. Functional taping: a promising technique for children with cerebral palsy . Dev Med Child Neurol 2010; 52: 587 – 589.
24. Scholtes VA, Dallmeijer AJ, Rameckers EA, et al. Lower limb strength training in children with cerebral palsy – a randomized controlled trial protocol for functional strength training based on progressive resistance exercise principles. BMC Pediatrics 2008;8:41]
25. Palisano R, Rosenbaum P, Walter S, et al. Development and reliability of a system to classify gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol 1997; 39:214–23.
26. Willemse L, Brehm MA, Scholtes VA, et al. Reliability of isometric lower-extremity muscle strength measurements in children with cerebral palsy: implications for measurement design. Phys Ther 2013; 93:935–41.
27. McDowell BC, Kerr C, Parkes J, Cosgrove A. Validity of a 1 minute walk test for children with cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol 2005; 47:744–8.
28. Wade DT, ed.Measurement in neurological rehabilitation. Oxford:Oxford University Press; 1992:78–9.]
29. Verschuren O, Ketelaar M, Takken T, et al. Reliability of hand-held dynamometry and functional strength tests for the lower extremity in children with Cerebral Palsy. Disabil Rehabil 2008; 30:1358–66.]
30. Scholtes VA, Dallmeijer AJ, Rameckers EA, et al. Lower limb strength training in children with cerebral palsy – a randomized controlled trial protocol for functional strength training based on progressive resistance exercise principles. BMC Pediatrics 2008; 8:41

Jaya Dixit

Occupational Therapist, Sir Sunderlal Hospital, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India