P.7.17 Effects of quadriceps muscle kinesiologic taping on gait and performance in children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

• Published in: Neuromuscular disorders : NMD Vol. 23; no. 9; pp. 778 - 779
• Main Authors: Alemdaroglu, I, Harput, G, Karaduman, A.A, Ergun, N, Yýlmaz, O, Topaloglu, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-10-2013
• Subjects: Neurology
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2013.06.498
• EISSN: 1873-2364
• ISSN: 0960-8966

Aim of this study was to investigate the effects of quadriceps kinesiologic taping on gait, performance and endurance in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). 10 children with DMD in Grade 1–2 according to the Brooke Lower Extremity Functional Classification (BLEFC) included in the study. Lower extremity muscle strength-shortening tests, timed performance tests (Gowers, 10 m walking, climbing up and down 4 steps), endurance tests (number of knee flexion–extension and mini-squat with back support during 30 s), gait assessment (step width, step length, number of steps in a minute) and gait performance test (6 Minute Walk Test-6MWT) were performed before taping (BT). Patella and patellar tendon were stabilized according to the kinesiologic taping manual for quadriceps muscle activation. Y-strip was applied to quadriceps without stretching the band in supine position and placed to inferior patella from medial to lateral with 40% tension. I-strip was placed to patellar tendon with 75% tension. Assessments were repeated 30 min after from taping (AT). Mean ages of children was found to be 109.3 ± 15.9 months. 2 (20%) were in Grade 1 and 8 (80%) were in Grade 2 according to the BLEFC. No difference was found in right ( z = −0.07), left ( z = −1.54) quadriceps and total lower extremity muscle strength ( z = −1.82), timed performance and endurance tests after taping ( p > 0.05). Step width (BT:21.7 ± 4.5 cm; AT:19.4 ± 5.5 cm), left step length (BT:34.2 ± 5.2 cm; AT:39.7 ± 6.7 cm) increased and 6MWT distance (BT:369.3 ± 54.4 m; AT:356.1 ± 49.9 m) decreased after taping ( z = −2.24), ( p < 0.05). Increase in knee stabilization improved step width and length while caused the decrease in performance. The results show that local interventions to compensatory postures and movements of children with DMD effect the performance, negatively.