Immediate effects of trunk Kinesio Taping® on functional parameters in the acute stage of patients with mild stroke: A randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT

Background: Improving early trunk control, balance, and sitting activity following acute stroke is critical for functional prognosis. Purpose: To compare the immediate efficacy of Kinesio Taping® (KT) application on anterior and posterior trunk muscles in terms of improving trunk control, balance, and sit-to-stand performance in the acute stage of stroke. Methods: Sixty-nine patients with acute mild stroke were allocated to the anterior KT group (AKT) (age = 65.95 ± 9.67; 12 females, 11 males; Modified Rankin Score = 3), posterior KT group (PKT) (age = 65.39 ± 10.39; 10 females, 13 males; Modified Rankin Score = 3), and control group (CG) (age = 65.34 ± 8.91; 11 females, 12 males; Modified Rankin Score = 2). Trunk control, balance, and sit-to-stand performance were assessed at the baseline and after 45 minutes and 48 hours post-KT. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. Results: All outcome measures scores improved in all groups significantly after 48 hours (p < .001). A significant improvement after 45 minutes was only seen in trunk control compared to the CG (p < .001; d = 1.32 for AKT and p = .038; d = 0.75 for PKT). Trunk control, balance, and sit-to-stand performance improved in both AKT and PKT compared to the CG at 48 hours post-taping. Trunk control (p < .001; d = 0.26) and balance (p < .001; d = 0.72) results were in favor of the AKT, while sit-to-stand performance results did not make a difference between KT groups (p = .335; d = 0.47). Conclusion: KT application on anterior or posterior trunk muscles was effective for improving trunk control, balance, and sit-to-stand performance in acute stage of stroke in the short term. KT application on anterior trunk muscles had the advantage of improving trunk control and balance.

KEYWORDS:

• Rectus abdominis
• erector spinae
• postural control
• taping
• rehabilitation

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Özge İpek Dongaz, PT, and Dilara Özen Oruk, PT for helping with patient assessments for the study. Funding was supported by Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported that there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.