Adjunct Non-Elastic Hip Taping Improves Gait Stability in Cane-Assisted Individuals with Chronic Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Ray-Yau Wang,Yea-Ru Yang,Chieh-Yu Lin,Jyue-Liang Chen,Chun-Shou Lee,Yun-Ju Chen

doi:10.3390/jcm11061553

Abstract

Cane-assisted individuals with chronic stroke may perform with an abnormal gait pattern. One of the important factors of gait training for cane-assisted individuals is inducing improvement in lower limb muscle activity of the paretic side. Non-elastic taping on the hip may be used as an adjunct therapy for improving gait. The objective of this study was to investigate effects of non-elastic hip taping combined with exercise on gait in cane-assisted individuals with chronic stroke. This study is a single-blinded, randomized controlled trial. A total of 21 cane-assisted ambulators with chronic stroke were enrolled. Participants in both groups received a therapeutic exercise program, with the experimental and control groups having adjunct non-elastic taping and sham taping on the hip, respectively. The gait, Berg Balance Scale, 6-min walk test, and Fall Efficacy Scale–International were measured at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up. The experimental group resulted in significantly better performance in double-support time compared with the control group. Furthermore, the experimental group showed a significant improvement in double-support time and spatial symmetry at post-intervention and 1-month follow-up compared with pre-intervention. This study demonstrated that non-elastic hip taping combined with exercise could improve gait stability in cane-assisted ambulators. Non-elastic hip taping would be a useful adjunct to rehabilitation strategies for individuals with chronic stroke.

Highlights

11 participants were randomly allocated to the experimental group, and 10 were allocated to the control group
The results demonstrated that adjunct non-elastic hip extensor and abductor taping enhanced the effects of exercise training on gait stability and gait symmetry in cane-assisted ambulators with chronic stroke
The current findings provide evidence that the application of adjunct non-elastic hip taping is promising for improving gait performance, especially in regard to stability and symmetry, post-stroke

Summary

Introduction

Physical disabilities after stroke usually lead to difficulties in moving, walking, and performing activities of daily living. A cane would reduce muscle activation of the anti-gravity muscles on the affected side during walking in individuals with stroke [8]. Previous studies have shown that cane-assisted, post-stroke ambulators had poor balance and gait performance and less social participation than those who were independent of walking aids [9,10]. Another study reported that long-term use of a cane may lead to negative effects on functional recovery due to the fact that the assistance of a cane causes joint and muscle unloading and decoupling from the central pattern generator’s control, which may adversely affect post-stroke plasticity and functional recovery [12]. An effective intervention to rebuild gait stability and eliminate the need of walking aids is an important issue in stroke rehabilitation

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Conclusion