The Effects of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Pattern Kinesio Taping on Arm Swing, Balance, and Gait Parameters among Chronic Stroke Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Published in: Life (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 14; no. 2; p. 242
• Main Authors: Moon, Seo-Jeong, Han, Sang-Yong, Park, Dong-Hwan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.02.2024
• Subjects: Applied kinesiology; arm swing; Athletic taping; Balance; Care and treatment; Clinical trials; Experiments; Fitness equipment; Force plates; Gait; Gait disorders; Gait recognition; Identification documents; kinesio tape; Methods; Muscle function; Parameters; Physical therapy; Physiological aspects; Proprioception; proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation; Statistical analysis; Stroke; Stroke patients; Taping; Therapeutics, Experimental; Training; Walking; South Korea; arm swing; proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation; kinesio tape; balance; gait; stroke
• ISSN: 2075-1729; 2075-1729
• DOI: 10.3390/life14020242

(1) Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern kinesio taping on arm swing, balance, and gait parameters among chronic stroke patients. (2) Methods: Twenty-eight participants were randomized into proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern kinesio taping during gait training ( = 14) and gait training ( = 14) groups. The proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern kinesio taping during gait training group employed proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern kinesio taping during 15 min treadmill-based gait training five times a week for four weeks, while the gait training group underwent the same gait training without proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern kinesio taping. Arm swing angle was measured using the Image J program, static balance was assessed with an AMTI force plate, dynamic balance was evaluated through the Timed Up and Go test, and gait parameters were recorded using the GAITRite system and the Dynamic Gait Index. (3) Results: After 4 weeks of training, the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern kinesio taping during gait training group exhibited significant improvements in all variables compared to the baseline ( < 0.05), whereas the gait training group did not show statistically significant differences in any variables ( > 0.05). (4) Conclusions: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern kinesio taping during gait training in enhancing arm swing angle, balance, and gait parameters.