The effect of Kinesio Taping on balance and foot arching in children with intellectual disability

ABSTRACT

Background: Assess the Kinesio Taping (KT) effect on balance and foot arches.

Methods: Thirty young people with intellectual disability (ID) and flat feet were randomly assigned to experimental (E) and control (C) groups. Group E had KT applied to the sole of their feet and both groups participated in a 12-week task-oriented training conducted three times a week. Balance and foot arches were tested on a baroresistive platform before and after the study.

Results: Enhanced balance was found in both groups. Group E had more balanced posture in the medio-lateral center of pressure displacement on eyes closed and in the anterior-posterior center of pressure displacement on eyes open tests than group C. Higher foot arches were discovered in both groups. In two participants in group E, the left foot arch changed from flat to normal.

Conclusions: KT may valuably supplement therapeutic programs improving the sense of stability and creating proper foot structure in children with ID.

KEYWORDS:

• Intellectual disability
• Kinesio Taping
• balance
• flat feet

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the teachers from the schools, and the young participants in the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Edyta Mikołajczyk http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4109-9409

Agnieszka Jankowicz-Szymańska http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3111-3468