ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the effect of combining motor imagery therapy (MIT) with kinesio taping in rehabilitating the upper limb motor function of stroke survivors.Methods:Ninety-two stroke survivors were randomized into a control group ( n=31), an MIT group ( n=31), and a combination group ( n=30). All were given 40 minutes of basic rehabilitation therapy daily, while the MIT group received additional MIT therapy, and the combination group received kinesio taping with the MIT therapy. The taping was applied according to a patient′s condition and changed every other day. The MIT was conducted twice a day. The experiment lasted 8 weeks, six days a week. Before and after the 8 weeks, the upper limb functioning, ability in the activities of daily living and muscle tension of each subject were assessed using the Fugl-Meyer assessment for the upper extremities (FMA-UE), the Hong Kong version of the functional test for a hemiplegic upper extremity (FTHUE-HK), the modified Barthel index (MBI) and the modified Ashworth scale (MAS). Results:The average post-treatment FMA-UE and MBI scores of the combination group were significantly higher than those of the MIT group, and both were significantly higher than the control group′s averages. The average FTHUE-HK grading of the combination group and MIT group after the treatment was significantly higher than in the control group, with that of the combination group significantly superior to the MIT group′s average. After the intervention the average MAS rating of the combination group was significantly lower than that of the control group.Conclusion:MIT combined with Kinesio taping can significantly improve the upper limb motor functioning of stroke survivors, and significantly reduce their abnormal muscle tone compared to traditional treatments.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the clinical effect of combining kinesio taping with filtered infrared-A irradiation in the treatment of scapulohumeral periarthritis.Methods:Eighty-six patients with scapulohumeral periarthritis were randomly divided into a control group ( n=43) and an observation group ( n=43). Both groups received 20 minutes of irradiation with water-filtered infrared-A per day for 14 days, while the observation group was also given kinesio taping after the irradiation on 6 days of each week for the two weeks. Before and after the 2 weeks of treatment, both groups were evaluated for pain, their active and passive range of motion (AROM and PROM) of the shoulder, as well as the range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder joint, and their Constant-Murley score (CMS). The subjects also evaluated the functioning of their own shoulders using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Results:After the treatment, the average VAS scores of both groups were significantly higher than before the treatment, but the observation group′s average was significantly higher than that of the control group. There was significant improvement in the average AROM and PROM in both groups, but in the observation group the average AROM in anteflexion, rear protraction, abduction and extorsion and the average PROM in anteflexion and abduction were significantly better than the control group′s averages. The average total CMS scores of both groups had also improved significantly, but with significantly greater improvement in the observation group leading to a significant difference between the two groups after the intervention.Conclusions:Supplementing water-filtered infrared-A irradiation with kinesio taping is very effective in relieving pain, as well as improving ROM and life quality for persons with scapulohumeral periarthritis.