Effect of Kinesiotaping on muscle activation during gait and time of Timed Up & Go test in children with Cerebral palsy

• Grant number: 16/09022-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2016
• End date: July 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Nelci Adriana Cicuto Ferreira Rocha
• Grantee: Ester Rebeca Filipini
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is non-progressive damage to the immature brain, causing movement and posture disorders, and also the disability to perform functional activities and social participation. New techniques and approaches are emerging in order to improve the gait functionality in children with CP and, among these, we can feature the Kinesiotaping® (KT). KT is being used in clinical practice, however, more studies are necessary to prove its effectiveness. Objective: the goal is to evaluate the effect of Kinesiotaping® and placebo application on the gluteus medius and anterior tibialis activation characteristics during the gait and the time of the test "Timed Up & Go" (TUG) of children with CP. Methods: it will be included in the study children with hemiparetic and paretic PC with levels I and II in GMFCS, aged from 5 to 14 years. The control group will be formed by the same children with CP, which will be evaluated according to the muscle activation with electromyography and TUG test during the gait under two conditions: placebo condition, without elastic tension, and normal condition with 120% KT tension. In both conditions, the comparative will be performed without the KT application. An elastic adhesive hypoallergenic bandage will be applied over the gluteus medius and tibialis anterior muscles with the use of the facilitation technique. Wireless electrodes will be placed on the top of these muscles, and, for better positioning of the electrodes and capture of electromyographic signals during the gait in the TUG test, there will be a small cut in the upper third of the bandage. The hypothesis is that the application of KT in the gluteus medius will increase muscle activation and, hence increase external rotation of the hip. This may reduce the internal rotation, and improve the tibialis anterior activation, which increases its dorsiflexion, opposing the CP gait pattern. It is also expected a reduction in the TUG time, which may contribute to the independence and autonomy in the child's daily activities. In the control group, with KT without tension, we expect that the children keep the same pattern observed without the KT, with no changes in the TUG test, once the effects of this method are only observed with the KT with tension.(AU)