Efficacy of adhesive taping in controlling genu recurvatum in diplegic children: A pilot study

Abstract

Adhesive taping has been commonly used to improve the performance through supporting joint structure and reducing pain. Restoring knee alignment in diplegic children is critical in an effective treatment program. The purpose of this article is to investigate whether adhesive taping is effective in controlling genu recurvatum in diplegic cerebral palsy children. Fourteen children with diplegic cerebral palsy (8 boys and 6 girls with a mean age of 6.22 years), participated in a 12-week program. Children were assigned randomly to one of two groups: therapeutic taping + physical therapy or knee cage +physical therapy. Therapeutic taping was applied for periods of up to 60 h over knee. The effects were assessed with the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88), Auto CAD, Screen protractor at baseline and 12 weeks after treatment. The primary outcome measure was knee angulations, using Auto CAD and screen protractor software. The Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88) standing and walking subsections were the secondary outcome measures. No significant differences were found between groups over time. Adhesive taping does not evoke a positive change in controlling genu recurvatum in children with diplegic cerebral palsy.

Keywords: Adhesive taping; Cerebral palsy; Spastic diplegia; Genu recurvatum; Auto CAD; Screen protractor

The Egyptian Journal of Medical Human Genetics (2013) 14, 183–188