Abstract
Stroke patients often have muscles spasticity, difficulty with posture control, and tend to fall. This study investigated the use of kinesiology tape for patients with spasticity of ankle muscles after stroke. This study had a randomized, repeated measures design, and evaluated the immediate effect of kinesiology tape on the center of pressure (COP) excursion when applied to the calf and tibialis anterior muscles in stroke survivors. We determined that the taping attachment direction affects the COP movement. Twenty subjects were randomly assigned to the tibialis anterior taping condition, calf taping condition, or nontaping condition. Condition excursion was assessed. The measured variables included the paretic side area, nonparetic side area, forward area, and backward area of COP. All evaluations were conducted immediately after taping. COP excursion for chronic stroke survivors improved after tibialis anterior and calf taping (p < 0.05). Calf taping conditions increased significantly in the forward area (p < 0.05), and tibialis anterior taping conditions increased significantly in the backward area (p < 0.05). Kinesiology tape immediately increased the forward and backward COP excursion for patients with stroke.
Highlights
Stroke patients with neurological impairment experience 43% more muscle spasticity [1] and56% more somatosensory deficits in the affected legs [2]
Spastic hypertonia at the ankle joint is a typical problem for after-stroke patients [5]
The exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) neurological issues other than stroke that may interfere with balance control, (2) pain that may impact daily life, and (3) skin rashes or allergies associated with the tape
Summary
Stroke patients with neurological impairment experience 43% more muscle spasticity [1] and56% more somatosensory deficits in the affected legs [2]. Stroke patients with neurological impairment experience 43% more muscle spasticity [1] and. Stroke patients with poor postural control experience approximately 40% more falls per year [3]. Patients who are hemiparalyzed after stroke experience abnormal muscle tone changes due to neurological damage, decreased muscle strength, and an inaccurate range of motion in the joints. They have difficulty with posture control due to a lack of sensory processing abilities [4]. Ankle spasticity affects the functional performance regarding passive biomechanic properties and internal ankle joint torque during functional movement, such as posture control for balance and gait [5,6]
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